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Of   tl)f 

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The  Sylvester  Hassell  Collection 

FROM  THE   LIBRARY  OF 

Sylvester  Hassell,  D.  D. 

CLASS     OF    '62 

GIVEN   BY    HIS   CHILDREN 


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Dairyman's  Daughter. 


ARRETON  CHURCH. 


THE 


DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER 


AN  AUTHENTIC  NARRATIVE. 


BY  REV.  LEGH  RICHMOND, 

LATE  RECTOR  OF   TDRVEY,    BEDFORDSHIRE,  ENGLAND. 


TAKEN  FROM  HIS  LATEST  EDITION. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 
AMERICAN  TRACT   SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


; 


THE 


DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER 


It  is  a  delightful  employment  to  dis- 
cover and  trace  the  operations  of  divine 
grace,  as  they  are  manifested  in  the  dis- 
positions and  lives  of  God's   real  chil- 
dren.    It  is  peculiarly  gratifying  to  ob- 
serve how  frequently,  among  the  poorer 
classes  of  mankind,  the  sunshine  of  mercy 
beams  upon  the  heart,  and  bears  witness 
to  the  image  of  Christ  which  the  Spirit 
of  God  has  impressed  thereupon.  t  Among 
such,  the  sincerity  and  simplicity  of  the 
.    Christian  character  appear  unencumbered 
v  by  those  obstacles  to  spirituality  of  mind 
o-  and  conversation,  which  too  often  prove 


6  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

a  great  hinderance  to  those  who  live  in 
the  higher  ranks.  Many  are  the  diffi- 
culties which  riches,  worldly  consequence, 
high  connections,  and  the  luxuriant  re- 
finements of  polished  society,  throw  in 
the  way  of  religious  profession.  Happy 
indeed  it  is — and  some  such  happy  in- 
stances I  know — where  grace  has  so 
strikingly  supported  its  conflict  with  nat- 
ural pride,  self-importance,  the  allure- 
ments of  luxury,  ease,  and  worldly  opin- 
ion, that  the  noble  and  mighty  appear 
adorned  with  genuine  poverty  of  spirit, 
self-denial,  humble-mindedness,  and  deep 
spirituality  of  heart. 

But  in  general,  if  we  want  to  see  re- 
ligion in  its  most  simple  and  pure  char- 
acter, we  must  look  for  it  among  the 
poor  of  this  world  who  are  rich  in  faith. 
How  often  is  the  poor  man's  cottage  the 
palace  of  God.  Many  can  truly  declare, 
that  they  have  there  learned  the  most 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  7 

valuable  lessons  of  faith  and  hope,  and 
there  witnessed  the  most  striking  demon- 
strations of  the  wisdom,  power,  and  good- 
ness of  G-od. 

The  'character  which  the  present  nar- 
rative is  designed  to  introduce  to  the 
notice  of  my  readers,  is  given  from  real 
life  ami  circumstances.  I  first  became 
acquainted  with  her  by  receiving  the 
following  letter,  which  I  transcribe  from 
the  original  now  before  me. 

"&ev.  Sir — I  take  the  liberty  to  write 
to  you.  Pray  excuse  me,  for  I  have 
never  spoken  to  you.     But  I  once  heard 

you  when  you  preached  at church. 

I  believe  you  are  a  faithful  preacher  to 
warn  sinners  to  flee  from  the  wrath  that 
will  be  revealed  against  all  those  that 
live  in  sin,  and  die  impenitent.  Pray 
go  on  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord.  And 
may  he  bless  you,  and  crown  your  labor 


8  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

of  love  with  success,  and  give  you  souls 
for  your  hire. 

"The  Lord  has  promised  to  be  with 
those  whom  he  calls  and  sends  forth  to 
preach  his  word,  to  the  end  of-  time ; 
for  without  him  we  can  do  nothing.  I 
was  much  rejoiced  to  hear  of  those  marks 
of  love  and  affection  to  that  poor  soldier 
of  the  S.  D.  militia.  Surely  the  love  of 
Christ  sent  you  to  that  poor  man:  may 
that  love  ever  dwell  richly  in  you  by 
faith;  may  it  constrain  you  to  seek  the 
wandering  souls  of  men  with  the  fervent 
desire  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  his 
glory.  May  the  unction  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  attend  the  word  spoken  by  you 
with  power,  and  convey  deep  conviction 
to  the  hearts  of  your  hearers.  May 
many  of  them  experience  the  divine 
change  of  being  made  new  creatures  in 
Christ. 

"Sir,  be  fervent  in  prayer  with  God 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  9 

for  the  conversion  of  sinners.  His  power 
is  great,  and  who  can  withstand  it?  He 
has  promised  to  answer  the  prayer  of 
faith,  that  is  put  np  in  his  Son's  name. 
'Ask  what  ye  will,  -it  shall  be  granted 
you.'  How  this  should  strengthen  our 
faith,  when  we  are  taught  by  the  word 
and  the  Spirit  how  to  pray!  Oh,  that 
sweet  inspiring  hope ;  how  it  lifts  up  the 
fainting  spirits,  when  we  look  over  the 
precious  promises  of  God !  What  a  mer- 
cy if  we  know  Christ  and  the  power 
of  his  resurrection  in  our  own  hearts! 
Through  faith  in  Christ  we  rejoice  in 
hope,  and  look  up  in  expectation  of  that 
time  drawing  near,  when  all  shall  know 
and  fear  the  Lord,  and  when  a  nation 
Shall  be  born  in  a  day. 

"What  a  happy  time,  when.  Christ's 
kingdom  shall  come !  Then  shall  his  '  will 
be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.7 
Men  shall  be  daily  fed  with  the  manna 


10  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

of  his  love,  and  delight  themselves  in 
the  Lord  all  tiie  day  long.  Then  what 
a  paradise  below  they  will  enjoy.  How 
it  animates  and  enlivens  my  soul  with 
vigor  to  pursue  the* ways  of  God,  that  I 
may  even  now  bear  some  humble  part 
in  giving  glory  to  God  and  the  Lamb. 

' '  Sir,  I  began  to  write  this  on  Sunday, 
being  detained  from  attending  on  public 
worship.  My  dear  and  only  sister,  liv- 
ing as  a  servant  with  Mrs. ,  was  so 

ill,  that  I  came  here  to  attend  in  her 
place  and  on  her.  But  now  she  is  no 
more. 

"I  was  going  to  entreat  you  to  write 
to  her  in  answer  to  this ;  she  being  con- 
vinced of  the  evil  of  her  past  life,  and 
that  she  had  not  walked  in  the  ways  of 
God,  nor  sought  to  please  him.  But  she 
earnestly  desired  to  do  so.  This  makes 
me  have  a  comfortable  hope  that  she  is 
gone  to  glory,  and  that  she  is  now  join- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  11 

ing  in  sweet  concert  with  the  angelic 
host  in  heaven  to  sing  the  wonders  of 
redeeming  love.  I  hope  I  may  now 
write,  'Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 
the  Lord.' 

"She  expressed  a  desire  to  receive 
the  Lord's  supper,  and  commemorate  his 
precious  death  and  sufferings.  I  told 
her,  as  well  as  I  was  able,  what  it  was 
to  receive  Christ  into  her  heart ;  but  as 
her  weakness  of  body  increased,  she  did 
not  mention  it  again.  She  seemed  quite 
resigned  before  she  died.  I  do  hope  she 
is  gone  from  a  world  of  death  and  sin  to 
be  with  God  for  ever. 

"Sir,  I  hope  you  will  not  be  offended 
with  me,  a  poor  ignorant  person,  to  take 
such  a  liberty  as  to  write  to  you.  But 
I  trust,  as  you  are  called  to  instruct  sin- 
ners in  the  ways  of  God,  you  will  bear 
with  me,  and  be  so  kind  to  answer  this 
ill-wrote  letter,  and  give  me*  some  in- 


12  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

struction.  It  is  my  heart's  desire  to 
have  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ,  that 
when  I  awake  up  in  his  likeness  then  I 
may  be  satisfied. 

"My  sister  expressed  a  wish  that  you 
might  bury  her.  The  minister  of  our 
parish,  whither  she  will  be  carried,  can- 
not come.  She  will  lie  at  — i — .  She 
died  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  will  be 
buried  on  Friday  or  Saturday,  which- 
ever is  most  convenient  to  you,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon. »  Please  to  send 
an  answer  by  the  bearer,  to  let  me  know 
whether  you  can  comply  with  this  re- 
quest. 

"From  your  unworthy  servant, 

"  ELIZABETH  W ." 

I  was  much  struck  with  the  simple  and 
earnest  strain  of  devotion  which  this  let- 
ter breathed.  It  was  but  indifferently 
written  and  spelt.  But  this  the  rather 
tended  to  'endear  the  hitherto  unknown 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER,         13 

writer,  as  it  seemed  characteristic  of  the 
union  of  humbleness  of  station  with  emi- 
nence of  piety.  I  felt  quite  thankful 
that  I  was  favored  with  a  correspondent 
of  this  description ;  the  more  so,  as  such 
characters  were  at  that  time  very  rare 
in  the  neighborhood.  I  have  often  wished 
that  epistolary  intercourse  of  this  kind 
were  more  encouraged  and  practised 
among  us.  I  have  the  greatest  reason 
to  speak  well  of  its  effect  both  on  myself 
and  others.  Communication  by  letter  as 
well  as  by  conversation  with-  the  pious 
poor,  has  often  been  the  instrument  of 
animating  and  reviving  my  own  heart 
in  the  midst  of  duty,  and  of  giving  me 
the  most  profitable  information  for  the 
general  conduct  of  the  ministerial  office. 

As  soon  as  the  letter  was  read,  I  in- 
quired who  was  the  bearer  of  it. 

"He  is  waiting  at  the  outside  of  the 
gate,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 


14         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

I  went  out  to  speak  to- him,  and  saw  a 
venerable  old  man,  whose  long  hoary 
hair  and  deeply  wrinkled  countenance 
commanded  more  than  common  respect. 
He  was  resting  his  arm  upon  the  gate, 
and  tears  were  streaming  down  his  cheeks. 
On  my  approach  he  made  a  low  bow, 
and  said, 

'"Sir,  I  have  brought  you  a  letter  from 
my  daughter ;  but  I  fear  you  will  think 
us  very  bold  in  asking  you  to  take  so 
much  trouble." 

"By  no  means,"  I  replied;  "I  shall 
be.  truly  glad  to  oblige  you  and  any  of 
your  family  in  this  matter,  provided  it  be 
quite  agreeable  to  the  minister  of  your 
parish." 

"Sir,  he  told  me  yesterday,  that  he 
should  be  very  glad  if  I  could  procure 
some  gentleman  to  come  and  bury  my 
poor  child  for  him,  as  he  lives  five  miles 
off,  and  has  particular  business  .on  that 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  15 

day:  so  when  I  told  my  daughter,  she 
asked  me  to  come  to  you,  sir,  and  bring 
that  letter,  which  would  explain  the 
matter." 

I  desired  him  to  come  into  the  house, 
and  then  said, 

"What  is  your  occupation?" 

' '  Sir,  I  have  lived  most  of  my  days  in 

a  little  cottage  at ,  six  miles  from 

here.  I  have  rented  a  few  acres  of 
ground,  and  kept  some  cows,  which,  in 
addition  to  my  day-labor,  has  been  the 
means  of  supporting  and  bringing  up  my 
family." 

"What  family  have  you?" 

"A  wife,  now  getting  very  aged  and 
helpless,  two  sons,  and  one  daughter; 
for  my  other  poor  dear  child  is  just  de- 
parted out  of  this  wicked  world." 

"I  hope,  for  a  better." 

"I  hope  so  too:  poor  thing,  she  did 
not  use  to  take  to  such  good  ways  as  her 


16         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

sister ;  but  I  do  believe  that  her  sister's 
manner  of  talking  with  her  before  she 
died  was  the  means  of  saving  her  soul. 
What  a  mercy  it  is  to  have  such  a  child 
as  mine  is.  I  never  thought  about  my 
own  soul  seriously  till  she,  poor  girl, 
begged  me  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come.'7 

"How  old  are  you?" 

"Near  seventy,  and  my  wife  is  older; 
we  are  getting  old  and  almost  past  our 
labor,  but  our  daughter  has  left  a  good 
place,  where  she  lived  in  service,  on 
purpose  to  come  home  and  take  care  of 
us  and  our  little  dairy.  And  a  dear, 
dutiful,  affectionate  girl  she  is." 

"Was  she  alwavs  so?" 

"No,  sir;  when  she  was  very  young, 
she  was  all  for  the  world  and  pleasure, 
and  dress  and  company.  Indeed,  we 
were  all  very  ignorant,  and  thought  if 
we  took  care  for  this  life,  and  wronged 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  17 

nobody,  we  should  be  sure  to  go  to  heav- 
en at  last,  My  daughters  were  both 
wilful,  and,  like  ourselves,  strangers  to 
the  ways  of  God  and  the  word  of  his 
grace.  But  the  eldest  of  them  went  out 
to  service,  and  some  yea^  ago  she  heard 

a  sermon  preached  at church  by  a 

gentleman  that  was  going  to ,  as 

chaplain  to  the  colony,  and  from  that 
time  she  seemed  quite  another  creature. 
She  began  to  read  the  Bible,  and  became 
sober  and  steady.  The  first  time  she 
returned  home  afterwards  to  see  us,"  she 
brought  us  a  guinea  which  she  had  saved 
from  her  wages,  and  said,  as  we  were 
getting  old,  she  was  sure  we  should  want 
help;  adding,  that  she  did  not  wish  to 
spend  it  in  fine  clothes,  as  she  used  to 
do,  only  to  feed  pride  and  vanity.  She 
said  she  would  rather  show  gratitude  to 
her  dear  father  and  mother,  because 
Christ  had  shown  such  meiScy  to  her. 

2 


18         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"We  wondered  to  hear  her  talk,  and 
took  great  delight  in  her  company ;  for 
her  temper  and  behavior  were  so  hum- 
ble and  kind,  she  seemed  so  desirous  to 
do  us  good  both  in  soul  and  body,  and 
was  so  different  from  what  we  had  ever 
seen  her  before,  that,  careless  and  igno- 
rant as  we  had  been,  we  began  to  think 
there  must  be  something  real  in  religion, 
or  it  never  could  alter  a  person  so  much 
in  a  little  time. 

"  Her  youngest  sister,  poor  soul,  used 
to  faugh  and  ridicule  her  at  that  time, 
and  said  her  head  was  turned  with  her 
new  ways.  'No,  sister/  she  would  say, 
'not  my  head,  but  I  hope  my  heart  is 
turned  from  the  love  of  sin  to  the  love 
of  God.  I  wish  you  may  one  day  see, 
as  I  do,  the  danger  and  vanity  of  your 
present  condition.' 

"Her  poor  sister  would  reply,  'I  do 
not  want  to  hear  any  of  your  preaching ; 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  19 

I  am  no  worse  than  other  people,  and 
that  is  enough  for  me.'  *Wdl,  sister,' 
Elizabeth  would  say,  'if  you  will  not 
hear  me,  you  cannot  hinder  me  from 
praying  for  you,  which  I  do  with  all  my 
heart.' 

'•And  now,  sir,  I  believe  those  pray- 
ers are  answered.  For  when  her  sister 
was  taken  ill,   Elizabeth  went  to   Mrs. 

's  to  wait  in  her  place,   and  take 

care  of  her.  She  said  a  great  deal  to 
her  about  her  soul,  and  the  poor  girl  be- 
gan to  be  so  deeply  affected  and  sensi- 
ble of  her  past  sin,  and  so  thankful  for 
her  sister's  kind  behavior,  that  it  gave 
her  great  hopes  indeed  for  her  sake. 
When  my  wife  and  I  went  to  see  her  as 
she  lay  sick,  she  told  us  how  grieved 
and  ashamed  she  was  of  her  past  life ; 
but  said  she  had  a  hope  through  grace 
that  her  dear  sister's  Saviour  would  be 
her  Saviour  too;  for  she  saw  her  own 


20         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

sinfulness,  felt  her  own  helplessness,  and 
only  wished  to  cast  herself  upon  Christ 
as  her  hope  and  salvation. 

,  "  And  now,  sir,  she  is  gone,  and  I  hope 
and  think  her  sister's  prayers  for  her 
conversion  to  God  have  been  answered. 
The  Lord  grant  the  same  for  her  poor 
father  and  mother's  sake  likewise." 

This  conversation  was  a  very  pleasing 
commentary  upon  the  letter  which  I  had 
received,  and  made  me  anxious  both  to 
comply  with  the  request,  and  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  writer.  I  promised 
the  good  dairyman  to  attend  on  the  Fri- 
day at  the  appointed  hour ;  and  after 
some  more  conversation  respecting  his 
own  state  of  mind  under  the  present 
trial,  he  went  away. 

He  was  a  reverend  old  man ;  his  fur- 
rowed cheeks,  white  locks,  weeping  eyes, 
bent  shoulders,  and  feeble  gait,  were 
characteristic  of  the  aged  pilgrim.    As  he 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         21 

slowly  walked  onwards,  supported  by  a 
stick,  which  seemed  to  have  been  the 
companion  of  many  a  long  year,  a  train 
of  reflections  occurred,  which  I  retrace 
with  pleasure  and  emotion. 

At  the  appointed  hour  I  arrived  at 
the  church ;  and,  after  a  little  while,  was 
summoned  to  the  churchyard  gate  to  meet 
the  funeral  procession.  The  aged  par- 
ents, the  elder  brother,  and  the  sister, 
with  other  relatives,  formed  an  affecting 
group.  I  was  struck  with  the  humble, 
pious,  and  pleasing  countenance  of  the 
young  woman  from  whom  I  had  received 
the  letter.  It  bore  the  marks  of  great 
seriousness  without  affectation,  and  of 
much  serenity  mingled  with  a  glow  of 
devotion. 

A  circumstance  occurred  during  the 
reading  of  the  burial-service,  which  I 
think  it  right  to  mention,  as  one  among 
many  testimonies  of  the  solemn*  and  im- 


22         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

pressive  tendency  of  our  truly  evangeli- 
cal Liturgy.* 

A  man  of  the  village  who  had  hither- 
to been  of  a  very  careless  and  even  prof- 
ligate character,  went  into  the  church 
through  mere  curiosity,  and  with  no  bet- 
ter, purpose  than  that  of  vacantly  gazing 
at  the  ceremony.  He  came  likewise  to 
the  grave,  and  during  the  reading  of 
those  prayers  which  are  appointed  for 
that  part  of  the  service,  his  mind  receiv- 
ed a  deep,  serious  conviction  of  his  sin 
and  spiritual  danger.  It  was  an  impres- 
sion that  never  wore  off,  but  gradually 
ripened  into  the  most  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  an  entire  change,  of  which  I 
had  many  and  long-continued  proofs. 
He  always  referred  to  the  burial-ser- 
vice, and  to  some  particular  sentences 

*  The  Publishing  Committee  in  issuing  this 
narrative  entire  would  express  no  opinion  as  to 
the  use  of  a  Liturgy. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  23 

of  it,  as  the  clearly  ascertained  instru- 
ment of  bringing  hini,  through  grace,  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 

The  day  was  therefore  one  to  be  re- 
membered. Eemembered  let  it  be  by 
those  who  love  to  hear  ' !  the  short  and 
simple  annals  of  the  poor." 

Was  there  not  a  manifest  and  happy 
connection  between  the  circumstances 
that  providentially  brought  the  serious 
and  the  careless  to  the  same  grave  on 
that  day  together?  How  much  do  they 
lose  who  neglect  to  trace  the  leadings  of 
God  in  providence,  as  links  in  the  chain 
of  his-  eternal  purpose  of  redemption  and 
grace. 

''While  infidels  may  scoff,  let  us  adore." 

After  the  service  was  concluded,  I 
had  a  short  conversation  with  the  good 
old  couple  and  their  daughter.  She  told 
me  that  she  intended  to  remain  a  week 
or  two  at.  the  gentleman's  house  where 


24         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

her  sister  died,  till  another  servant  should 
arrive  and  take  her  sister's  place. 

"I  shall  be  truly  obliged,"  said  she, 
"by  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with 
you,  either  there  or  at  my  father's  when 
I  return  home,  which  will  be  in  the  course 
of  a  fortnight  at  the  farthest.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  talk  to  you  about  my  sister,  whom 
you  have  just  buried." 

Her  aspect  and  address  were  highly 
interesting.  I  promised  to  see  her  very 
soon;  and  then  returned  home,  quietly 
reflecting  on  the  circumstances  of  the 
funeral  at  which  I  had  been  engaged. 
I  blessed  the  God  of  the  poor,  and.pray- 
ed  that  the  poor  might  become  rich  in 
faith,  and  the  rich  be  made  poor  114 
spirit. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  25 


PART  II. 

A  sweet  solemnity  often  possesses  the 
mind,  while  retracing  past  intercourse 
with  departed  friends.  How  much  is 
this  increased,  when  they  were  such  as 
lived  and  died  in  the  Lord.  The  re- 
membrance of  former  scenes  and  conver- 
sations with  those  who,  we  Relieve,  are 
now  enjoying  the  interrupted  happiness 
of  a  better  world,  fills  the  heart  with 
pleasing  sadness,  and  animates  the  soul 
with  the  hopeful  anticipation  of  a  day 
when  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  re- 
vealed in  the  assembling  of  all  his  chil- 
dren together,  never  more  to  be  sepa- 
rated. Whether  they  were  rich  or  poor 
while  on  earth,  is  a  matter  of  trifling 
consequence :  the  valuable  part  of  their 
character  is,  that  they  are  "kings  and 


26  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

priests  unto  God ;"  and  this  is  their  true 
nobility.  In  the  number  of  now  de- 
parted believers,  with  whom  I  once  loved 
to  converse  on  the  grace  and  glory  of 
the  kingdom  of  God,  was  the  dairyman's 
daughter. 

About  a   week   after   the  funeral,    I 

went  to    visit   the    family   at ,    in 

whose  service  the  youngest  sister  had 
lived  and  died,  and  where  Elizabeth 
was  requested  to  remain  for  a  short 
time  in  her  stead. 

The  house  was  a  large  and  venerable 
mansion.  It  stood  in  a  beautiful  valley 
at  the  foot  of  a  high  hill.  It  was  em- 
bowered in  fine  woods,  which  were  in- 
terspersed in  every  direction  with  ris- 
ing, falling,  and  swelling  grounds.  The 
manor-house  had  evidently  descended 
through  a  long  line  of  ancestry,  from  a 
distant  period  of  time.  The  Gothic  char- 
acter of  its  original  architecture  was  still 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  27 


preserved  in  the  latticed  windows,  adorn- 
ed with  carved  divisions  and  pillars  of 
stone- work.      Several  pointed  termina- 


28  THE  DAIRYMAN'S'DAUGHTER. 

tions  also,  in  the  construction  of  the  roof, 
according  to  the  custom  of  our  forefa- 
thers, fully  corresponded  with  the  general 
features  of  the  building. 

One  end  of  the  house  was  entirely 
clothed  with  the-  thick  foliage  of  an  im- 
mense ivy,  which  climbed  beyond  cus- 
tomary limits,  and  embraced  a  lofty  chim- 
ney up  to  its  very  summit.  Such  a  tree 
seemed  congenial  to  the  walls  that  sup- 
ported it,  and  conspired  with  the  antique 
fashion  of  the  place  to  carry  imagination 
back  to  the  days  of  our  ancestors. 

As  I  approached,  I  was  led  to  reflect 
on  the  lapse  of  ages,  and  the  successive 
generations  of  men,  each  in  their  turn 
occupying  lands,  houses,  and  domains; 
each  in  their  turn  also  disappearing,  and 
leaving  their  inheritance  to  be  enjoyed 
by  others.  David  once  observed  the 
same,  and  cried  out,  "Behold,  thou  hast 
made  my  days  as  a  handbreadth;  and 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  29 

mine  age  is  as  nothing  before  thee ;  ver- 
ily every  man  at  his  best  state  is  alto- 
gether vanity.  Surely  every  man  walk- 
eth  in  a  vain  show;  surely  they  are  dis- 
quieted in  vain;  he  heapeth  up  riches, 
and  knoweth  not  who  shall  gather  them." 
Happy  would  it  be  for  the  rich,  if  they 
more  frequently  meditated  on  the  un- 
certainty of  all  their  possessions,  and 
the  frail  nature  of  every  earthly  tenure. 
"Their  inward  thought  is,  that  their 
houses  shall  continue  for  ever,  and  their 
dwelling-places  to  all  generations ;  they 
call  their  lands  after  their  own  names. 
Nevertheless,  man  being  in  honor  abideth 
not;  he  is  like  the  beasts  that  perish. 
This  their  way  is  their  folly ;  yet  their 
posterity  approve  their  sayings.  Like 
sheep  they  are  laid  in  the  grave ;  death 
shall  feed  on  them;  and  their  beauty 
shall  consume  in  the  grave  from  their 
dwelling." 


30         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


* 


As  I  advanced  to  the  mansion,  a  pleas- 
ing kind  of  gloom  overspread  the  front ; 
it  was  occasioned  by  the  shade  of  trees, 
and  gave  a  characteristic  effect  to^  the 
ancient -fabric.  I  instantly  recollected 
that  death  had  very  recently  visited  the 
house,  and  that  one  of  its  present  inhab- 
itants was  an  affectionate  mourner  for  a 
departed  sister. 

There  is  a  solennity  in  the  thought  of 
a  recent  death,  which  will  associate  itself 
with  the  very  walls  from  whence  we  are 
conscious  that  a  soul  has  just  taken  its 
flight  to  eternity. 

After  passing  some  time  in  conversa- 
tion with  the  superiors  of  the  family,  in 
the  course  of  which  I  was  much  gratified 
by  hearing  of  the  unremitted  attention 
which  the  elder  sister  had  paid  to  the 
younger  during  the  illness  of  the  latter,- 
I  received  likewise  other  testimonies  of 
the  excellence  of  her  general  character 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  3L 

and  conduct  in  the  house,  I  then  took 
leave,  requesting  permission  to  see  her, 
agreeably  to  the  promise  I  had  made  at 
the  funeral  not  many  days  before. 

I  was  shown  into  a  parlor,  where  I 
found  her  alone.  She  was  in  deep  mourn- 
ing. She  had  a  calmness  and  serenity 
in  her  countenance  which  exceedingly 
struck  me,  and  impressed  some  idea  of 
those  attainments  which  a  further  ac- 
quaintance with  her  afterwards  so  much 
increased. 

She  spoke  of  her  sister.  I*  had  the 
satisfaction  of  finding  that  she  had  given 
very  hopeful  proofs  of  a  change  of  heart 
before  she  died.  The  prayers  and  ear- 
nest exhortations  of  Elizabeth  had  been 
blessed  to  a  happy  effect.  She  described 
what  had  passed  with  such  a  mixture  of 
sisterly  affection  and  pious  dependence 
on  the  mercy  of  God  to  sinners,  as  con- 
vinced me  that  her  own  heart  was  under 


32         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

the  influence  of  "pure  religion  and  un- 
dented." 

f  She  requested  leave  occasionally  to 
correspond  with  me  on  serious  subjects, 
stating  that  she  needed  much  instruction. 
She  hoped  I  would  pardon  the  liberty 
which  she  had  taken  by  introducing  her- 
self to  my  notice.  She  expressed  a  trust 
that  the  Lord  would  overrule  both  the 
death  of  her.  sister,  and  the  personal 
acquaintance  with  me  that  resulted  from 
it,  to  a  present  and  future  good,  as  it 
respected  herself,  and  also  her  parents, 
with  whom  she  statedly  lived,  and  to 
whom  she  expected  to  return,  in  a  few 
days. 

Finding  that  she  was  wanted  in  some 
household  duty,  I  did  not  remain  long 
with  her,  but  left  her  with  an  assurance 
that  I  proposed  to  visit  her  parents  very 
shortly. 

"Sir,"  said  she,  "I  take  it  very  kind 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  33 

that  you  have  condescended  to  leave  the 
company  of  the  rich,  and  converse  with 
the  poor.  I  wish  I  could  have  said  more 
to  you  respecting  my  own  state  of  mind. 
Perhaps  I  shall  be  better  able  another 
time.  When  you  next  visit  me,  instead 
of  finding  me  in  these  noble  walls,  you 
will  see  me  in  a  poor  cottage.  •  But  I  am 
happiest  when  there.  Once  more,  sir,  I 
thank  you  for  your  past  kindness  to  me 
and  mine,  and  may  God  in  many  ways 
bless  you  for  it." 

I  quitted  the  house  with  no  small  de- 
gree of  satisfaction,  in  consequence  of 
the  new  acquaintance  which  I  had  form- 
ed. I  discovered  traces  of  a  cultivated 
as  well  as  a  spiritual  mind.  I  felt  that 
religious  intercourse  with  those  of  low 
estate  may  be  rendered  eminently  useful 
to  others,  whose  outward  station  and  ad- 
vantages are  far  above  their  own. 

How  often  does  it  appear  that  "God 
3 


34         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty ; 
and  base  things  of  the  world,  and  things 
which  are  despised,  hath  God  chosen, 
and  things  which  are  not,  to  bring  to 
naught  things  that  are:  that  no  flesh 
should  glory  in  his  presence/' 

It  was.  not  unfrequently  my  custom, 
when  my  mind  was  filled  with  any  inter- 
esting subject  for  meditation,  to  seek 
some  spot  where  the  beauties  of  natural 
prospect  might  help  to  form  pleasing  and 
useful  associations.  I  therefore  ascended 
gradually  to  the  very  summit  of  the  hill 
adjoining  the  mansion  where  my  visit 
had  just  been  made.  Here  was  placed 
an  elevated  sea-mark :  it  was  in  the  form 
of  a  triangular  pyramid,  and  built  of 
stone.  I  sat  down  on  the  ground  near 
it,  and  looked  at  the  surrounding  pros- 
pect, which  was  distinguished  for  beauty 
and  magnificence.      It  was  a  lofty  sta- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  35 

tion,  which  commanded  a  complete  cir- 
cle of  interesting  objects  to  engage  the 
spectator's  attention. 

Southward  the  view  was  terminated 
by  a  long  range  of  hills,  at  about  six 
miles  distance.  They  met,  to  the  west- 
ward, another  chain  of  hills,  of  which 
the  one  whereon  I  sat  formed  a  link, 
and  the  whole  together  nearly  encom- 
passed a  rich  and  fruitful  valley,  filled 
with  corn-fields  and  pastures.  Through 
this  vale  winded  a  small  river  for  many 
miles:  much  cattle  were  feeding  on  its 
banks.  Here  and  there,  lesser  eminences 
arose  in  the  valley ;  some  covered  with 
wood,  others  with  corn  or  grass,  and  a 
few  with  heath  or  fern.  One  of  these 
little  hills  was  distinguished  by  a  parish 
church  at  the  top,  presenting  a  striking 
feature  in  the  landscape.  Another  of 
these  elevations,  t  situated  in  the  centre 
of  the  valley,  was  adorned  with  a  vener- 


36         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

able  holly-tree,  which  has  grown  there 
for  ages.  Its  singular  height  and  wide- 
spreading  dimensions  not  only  render  it 
an  object  of  curiosity  to  the  traveller, 
but  of  daily  usefulness  to  the  pilot,  as 
a  mark  visible  from  the  sea,  whereby 
to  direct  his  vessel  safe  .  into  harbor. 
Villages,  churches,  country-seats,  farm- 
houses, and  cottages,  were  scattered  over 
every  part  of  the  southern  valley.  In 
this  direction  also,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
where  I  was  stationed,  appeared  the  an- 
cient mansion  which  I  had  just  quitted, 
embellished  with  its  woods,  groves,  and 
gardens. 

South-eastward,  I  saw  the  open  ocean, 
bounded  only  by  the  horizon.  The  sun 
shone,  and  gilded  the  waves  with  a  glit- 
tering light  that  sparkled  in  the  most 
brilliant  manner.  More  to  the  east,  in 
continuation  of  that  line  of  hills  where 
•    I  was  placed,  rose  two  downs,  one  be- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         37 

yond  the  other ;  both  covered  with  sheep, 
and  the  sea  just  visible  over  the  farthest 
of  them,  as  a  terminating  boundary.  In 
this  point  ships  were  seen,  some  sailing, 
others  at  anchor.  Here  the  little  river, 
which  watered  the  southern  valley,  fin- 
ished its  course,  and  ran  through  mead- 
ows into  the  sea,  in  an  eastward  direction. 
On  the  north  the  sea  appeared  like  a 
noble  river,  varying  frdm  three  to. seven 
miles  in  breadth,  between  the  banks  of 
the  opposite  coast  and  those  of  the  island 
which  I  inhabited.  Immediately  under- 
neath me  was  a  fine  woody  district  of 
country,  diversified  by  many  pleasing 
objects.  Distant  towns  were  visible  on 
the  opposite  shore.  Numbers  of  ships 
occupied  the  sheltered  station  which  this 
northern  channel  afforded  them.  The 
eye  roamed  with  delight  over  an  expanse 
of  near  and  remote  beauties,  which  alter- 
nately caught  the  observation,  and  which 


38         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

harmonized  together,  and  produced  a 
scene  of  peculiar  interest. 

Westward  the  hills  followed  each  other, 
forming  several  intermediate  and  partial 
valleys,  in  a  kind  of  undulations,  like 
the  waves  of  the  sea;  and,  bending  to 
the  south,  completed  the  boundary  of 
the  larger  valley  before  described,  to 
the  southward  of  the  hill  on  which  I  sat. 
In  many  instances  the  hills  were  culti- 
vated with  corn  to  their  very  summits, 
and  seemed  to  defy  the  inclemency  of 
the  weather,  which  at  these  heights,  usu- 
ally renders  the  ground  incapable  of 
bringing  forth  and  ripening  the  crops  of 
grain.  One  hill  alone,  the  highest  in 
elevation,  and  above  ten  miles  to  the 
south-westward,  was  enveloped  in  a  cloud, 
which  just  permitted  a  dim  and  hazy 
sight  of  a  signal-post,  a  lighthouse,  and 
an  ancient  chantry,  built  on  its  summit. 

Amidst  these  numerous  specimens  of 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  39 

delightful  scenery  I  found  a  mount  for 
contemplation,  and  here  I  indulged  it. 

"How  much  of  the  natural  beauties 
of  paradise  still  remain  in  the  world, 
although  its  spiritual  character  has  been 
so  awfully  defaced  by  sin.  But  when 
divine  grace  renews  the  heart  of  the 
fallen  sinner,  paradise  is  regained,  and 
much  of  its  beauty  restored  to  the  soul. 
As  this  prospect  is  compounded  of  hill 
and  dale,  land  and  sea,  woods  and  plains, 
all  sweetly  blended  together,  and  reliev- 
ing "each  other  in  the  landscape;  so  do 
the  gracious  dispositions  wrought  in  the 
soul  produce  a  beauty  and  harmony  of 
scene  to  which  it  was  before  a  stranger." 

I  looked  towards  the  village  in  the 
plain  below,  where  the  dairyman's  youn- 
ger daughter  was  buried.  I  retraced  the 
simple  solemnities  of  the  funeral.  I  con- 
nected the  principles  and  conduct  of  her 
sister  with  the  present  probably  happy 


40         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

state  of  her  soul  in  the  world  of  spirits, 
and  was  greatly  impressed  with  a  sense 
of  the  importance  of  family  influence  as 
a  means  of  grace.  "That  young  wom- 
an," I  thought,  "has  been  the  conductor 
of  not  only  a  sister,  but  perhaps  a  father 
and  mother  also,  to  the  true  knowledge 
of  God,  and  may,  by  divine  blessing,  be- 
come so  to  others.  It  is  a  glorious  occu- 
pation to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and  guide 
them  out  of  Egyptian  bondage  through 
the  wilderness  into  the  promised  Canaan. 
Happy  are  the  families  who  are  walking 
hand  in  hand  together,  as  pilgrims  tow- 
ards the  heavenly  country.  May  the 
number  of  such  be  daily  increased." 

Casting  my  eye  over  the  numerous 
dwellings  in  the  vales  on  my  right  and 
left,  I.  could  not  help  thinking,  "How 
many  of  their  inhabitants  are  ignorant 
of  the  ways  of  God,  and  strangers  to  his 
grace.      May  this  thought  stimulate  to 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  41 

activity  and  diligence  in  the  cause  of 
immortal  souls.  They  are  precious  in 
God's  sight — they  ought  to  be  so  in 
ours." 

Some  pointed  and  affecting  observa- 
tions to  that  effect  recurred  to  my  mind 
as  having  been  made  by  the  young  per- 
son with  whom  I  had  been  just  convers- 
ing. Her  mind  appeared  to  be  much  im- 
pressed with  the  duty  of  speaking  and 
acting  for  God  " while  it  is  day;"  con- 
scious that  "the  night  cometh,  when  no 
man  can  work."  Her  laudable  anxiety 
on  this  head  was  often  testified  to  me 
afterwards,  both  by  letter  and  conversa- 
tion. What  she  felt  herself,  in  respect 
to  endeavors  to  do  good,  she  happily 
communicated  to  others  with  whom  she 
corresponded  or  converged. 

Time  would  not  permit  my  continuing 
so  long  in  the  enjoyment  of  these  medita- 
tions on  this  lovely  mount  of  enjoyment, 


42  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

as  my  heart  desired.  On  my  return 
home  I  wrote  a  few  lines  to  the  dairy- 
man's daughter,  chiefly  dictated  by  the 
train  of  thought  which  had  occupied  my 
mind  while  I  sat  on  the  hill. 

On  the  next  Sunday  evening  I  received 
her  reply,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
transcript. 

.  "Sunday. 

"Kev.  Sir — I  am  this  day  deprived 
of  an  opportunity  of  attending  the  house 
of  God,  to  worship  him.  .  But,  glory  be 
to  his  name,  he  is  not  confined  to  time 
or  place.  I  feel  him  present  with  me 
where  I  am,  and  his  presence  makes  my 
paradise ;  for  where  he  is,  is  heaven.  I 
pray  God  that  a- double  portion  of  his 
grace  and  Holy  Spirit  may  rest  upon  you 
this  day ;  that  his  blessing  may  attend 
all  your  faithful  labors;  and  that  you 
may  find  the  truth  of  his  word  assuring 
us,  that  wherever  we  assemble  together 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         43 

in  his  name,  there  is  he  in  the  midst  to 
bless  every  waiting  sonl. 

"How  precious  are  ail  his  promises. 
We  ought  never  to  doubt  the  truth  of 
his  word.  For  he  will  never  deceive  us 
if  we  go  on  in  faith,  always  expecting  to 
receive  what  his  goodness  waits  to  give. 
Dear  sir,  I  have  felt  it  very  consoling  to 
read  your  kind  letter  to-day.  I  feel 
thankful  to  God  for  -  ministers  in  our 
church  who  love  and  fear  his  name; 
there  it  is  where  the  people  in  general 
look  for  salvation ;  and  there  may  they 
ever  find  it,  for  Jesus'  sake.  May  his 
word,  spoken  by  you  his  chosen  vessel 
of  grace,  be  made  spirit  and  life  to  their, 
dead  souls.  May  it  come  from  you  as 
an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God,  as 
sharp  arrows  from  a  strong  archer,  and 
strike  a  death-blow  to  all  their  sins. 
How  I  long  to  see  the  arrows  of  convic- 
tion fasten  on  the  minds  of  those  that  are 


44  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

hearers  of  the  word  and  not  doers.  0 
sir,  be  ambitious  for  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  salvation  of  souls.  It  will  add 
to  the  lustre  of  your  crown  in  glory,  as 
well  as  to  your  present  joy  and  peace. 
We  should  be  willing  to  spend  and  be 
spent  in  his  service,  saying,  'Lord,  may 
thy  will  be  done  by  me  on  earth,  even 
as  it  is  by  the  angels  in  heaven.'  So 
you  may  expect  to  see  his  face  with  joy, 
and  say,  'Here  am  I,  Lord,  and  all  the 
souls  thou  hast  given  me.' 

"It  seems  wonderful  that  we  should 
neglect  any  opportunity  of  doing  good, 
when  there  is,  if  it  be  done  from  love  to 
God  and  his  creatures,  a  present  reward 
of  grace,  in  reflecting  that  we  are  using 
the  talents  committed  to  our  care  accord- 
ing to  the  power  and  ability  which  we 
receive  from  him.  God  requires  not 
what  he  has  not  promised  to  give.  But 
when  we    look   back,   and    reflect   that 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  45 

there  have  been  opportunities  in  which 
we  have  neglected  to  take  up  our  cross 
and  speak  and  act  for  God,  what  a  de- 
jection of  mind  we  feel.  We  are  then 
justly  filled  with  shame.  Conscious  of 
being  ashamed  of  Christ,  we  cannot  come 
with  that  holy  boldness  to  a  throne  of 
grace,  nor  feel  that  free  access  when  we 
make  our  supplications. 

"We  are  commanded  to  provoke  one 
another  to  love  and  good  works ;  and 
where  two  are  agreed  together  in  the 
things  of  God,  they  may  say, 

" '  And  if  our  fellowship  below 
In  Jesus  be  so  sweet, 
What  heights  of  rapture  shall  we  know 
When  round  the  throne  we  meet.' 

"Sir,  I  hope  Mrs.  - and  you  are 

both  of  one  heart  and  one  mind.  Then 
you  will  sweetly  agree  in  all  things  that 
make  for  your  present  and  eternal  hap- 
piness.    Christ  sent  his  disciples  out,  not 


40         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

singly,  but  two  and  two,  that  they  might 
comfort  and  help  each  other  in  those 
ways  and  works  which  their  Lord  com- 
manded them  to  pursue. 

"It  has  been  my  lot  to  have  been 
alone  the  greatest  part  of  the  time  that  I 
have  known  the  ways  of  God.  I  there- 
fore find  it  such  a  treat  to  my  soul  when 
I  can  meet  with  any  who  loves  to  talk  of 
the  goodness  and  love  of  God,  and  all 
his  gracious  dealings.  What  a  comfort- 
able reflection,  to  think  of  spending  a 
whole  eternity  in  that  delightful  employ- 
ment; to  tell  to  listening  angels  his  love 
'immense,  unsearchable.' 

"Dear  sir  I  thank  you  for  your  kind- 
ness and  condescension  in  leaving  those 
that  are  of  high  rank  and  birth  in  the 
world,  to  converse  with  me,  who  am  but 
a  servant  here  below.  But  when  I  con- 
sider what  a  high  calling,  what  honor 
and  digmty.  God  has  conferred  upon  me, 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  47 

to  be  called  his  child,  to  be  born  of  his 
Spirit,  made  an  heir  of  glory,  and  joint- 
heir  with  Christ;  how  humble  and  cir- 
cumspect should  I  be  in  all  my  ways,  as 
a  dutiful  and  loving  child  to  an  affec- 
tionate and  loving  Father.  When  I  se- 
riously consider  these  things,  it  fills  me 
with  love  and  gratitude  to  God,  and  I 
do  not  wish  for  any  higher  station,  nor 
envy  the  rich.  I  rather  pity  them,  if 
they  are  not  good  as  well  as  great.  My 
blessed  Lord  was  pleased  to  appear  in 
the  form  of  a  servant ;  and  I  long  to  be 
like  him. 

"I  did  not  feel  in  so  happy  a  frame 
of  conversation  that  day,  nor  yet  that 
liberty  to  explain  my  thoughts  which  I 
sometimes  do.  The  fault  must  have 
been  all  in  myself;  for  there  was  noth- 
ing in  you  but  what  seemed  to  evidence 
a  Christian  spirit,  temper,  and  disposi- 
tion.    I  very  much  wished  for  an  oppor- 


48         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

tunity  to  converse  with  you.  I  feel  very 
thankful  to  God  that  you  do  take  up  the 
cross,  and  despise  the  shame ;  if  you  are 
found  faithful,  you  will  soon  sit  down 
with  him  in  glory. 

"I  have  written  to  the  Eev.  Mr. , 

to  thank  him  for  permitting  you  to  per- 
form the  burial-service  at over  my 

dear  departed  sister,  and  to  tell  him  of 
the  kind  way  in  which  you  consented  to 
do  it.  I  should  mention  that  your  man- 
ner of  reading  the  service  on  that  day 
had  a  considerable  effect  on  the  hearers. 

"Pray  excuse  all  faults,  and  correct 
my  errors.  I  expect  in  a  few  clays  to 
return  home  to  my  parents'  house.  We 
shall  rejoice  to  see  you  there. 

"From  your  humble  servant  in  Christ, 

"E.  W-r — ." 

It  was  impossible  to  view  such  a  cor- 
respondent with  indifference.  I  had  just 
returned  from  a  little  cottage  assembly, 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  49 

where,  on  Sunday  evenings,  I  sometimes 
went  to  instruct  a  few  poor  families  in 
one  of  the  hamlets  belonging  to  my  par- 
ish. I  read  the  letter,  and  closed  the 
day  with  thanksgiving  to  God  for  thus 
enabling  those  who  fear  his  name  to  build 
up  each  other  in  fear  and  love. 

Of  old  time,  ''they  that  feared  the 
Lord  spake  often  one  to  another;  and 
the  Lord  hearkened  and  heard  it,  and  a 
book  of  remembrance  was  written  before 
him  for  them  that  feared  the  Lord,  and 
that  thought  upon  his  name.'7 
•  That  book  of  remembrance  is  not  yet 
closed. 


50         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


PARTIII. 

The  mind  of  man  is  like  a  moving  pic- 
ture, supplied  with  objects,  not  only  from 
contemplation  on  things  present,  but  from 
the  fruitful  sources  of  recollection  and 
anticipation. 

Memory  retraces  past  events,  and  re- 
stores an  ideal  reality  to  scenes  which 
are  gone  by  for  ever.  They  live  a^lin 
in  revived  imagery,  and  we  seem  to.  hear 
and  see  with  renewed  emotions  what  we 
heard  and  saw  at- a  former  period.  Suc- 
cessions of  such  recollected  circumstances 
often  form  a  series  of  welcome  memo- 
rials. In  religious  meditations,  the  mem- 
ory becomes  a  sanctified,  instrument  of 
spiritual  improvement. 

Another  part  of  this  animated  picture 
is  furnished  by  the  pencil  of  hope.      She 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  51 

draws  encouraging  prospects  for  the  soul, 
by  connecting  the  past  and  the  present 
with  the  future.  Seeing  the  promises 
afar  off,  she  is  persuaded  of  their  truth, 
and  embraces  them  as  her  own. 

The  Spirit  of  God  gives  a  blessing  to 
both  these  acts  of  the  mind,  and  employs 
them  in  the  service  of  religion.  Every 
faculty  of  body  and  soul,  when  consider- 
ed as  a  part  of  "the  purchased  posses- 
sion "  of  the  Saviour,  assumes  a  new 
character.  How  powerfully  does  the 
apostle,  on  this  ground,  urge  a  plea  for 
holy  activity  and  watchfulness.  "What, 
know  "ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  tem- 
ple of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  you, 
which  ye  have  of  God,  and  ye  are  not 
your  own?  for  ye  are  bought .  with  a 
price;  therefore  glorify  God  in  your 
body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are 
God's." 

The  Christian  may  derive  much  profit 


52         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

and  enjoyment  from  the  use  of  the  mem- 
ory as  it  concerns  those  transactions  in 
which  he  once  bore  a  part.  In  his  en- 
deavors to  recall  past  conversations  and 
intercourse  with  deceased  friends  in  par- 
ticular, the  powers  of  remembrance  great- 
ly improve  by  exercise.  One  revived 
idea  produces  another,  till  the  mind  is 
most  agreeably  and  usefully  occupied 
with  lively  and  holy  imaginations. 

"  Lulled  in  the  countless  chambers  of  the  brain, 
Our  thoughts  are  linked  by  many  a  hidden  chain; 
Awake  but  one,  and  lo,  what  myriads  rise  ; 
Each  stamps  its  image  as  the  other  flies  ; 
Each,  as  the  varied  avenues  of  sense 
Delight  or  sorrow  to  the  soul  dispense, 
Brightens  or  fades  ;  yet  all,  with  sacred  art, 
Control  the  latent  fibres  of  the  heart." 

May  it  please  God  to  bless,  both  to  the 
reader  and  the  writer,  this  feeble  attempt 
to  recollect  some  of  the  communications 
which  I  once  enjoyed  in  my  visits  to  the 
dairyman's  dwelling. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  53 

Very  soon  after  the  receipt  of  the  last 
letter,  I  rode  for  the  first  time  to  see  the 
family  at  their  own  house.  The  principal 
part  of  the  road  lay  through  retired,  nar- 
row lanes,  beautifully  overarched  with 
groves  of  nut  and  other  trees,  which 
screened  the  traveller  from  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  and  afforded  many  interesting 
objects  for  admiration  in  the  flowers, 
shrubs,  and  young  trees  which  grew  upon 
the  high  banks  on  each  side  of  the  road. 
Many  grotesque  rocks,  with  little  trick- 
ling streams  of  water  occasionally  break- 
ing out  of  them,  varied  the  recluse  scen- 
ery, and  produced  a  romantic  and  pleas- 
ing effect. 

Here  and  there  the  most  distant  pros- 
pect beyond  was  observable  through  gaps 
and  hollow  places  on  the  road-side.  Lof- 
ty hills,  with  many  signal-posts,  obelisks, 
and  lighthouses  on  their  summits,  ap- 
peared  at   these    intervals:    rich   corn- 


54  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

fields  were  also  visible  through  some  of 
the  open  places  ;  and  now  and  then,  when 
the  road  ascended  a  hill,  the  sea,  with 
ships  at  various  distances,  was  seen.  But 
for  the  most  part  shady  seclusion,  and 
objects  of  a  more  minute  and  confined 
nature,  gave  a  character  to  the  journey, 
and  invited  contemplation. 
•  How  much  do  they  lose  who  are  stran- 
gers to  serious  meditation  on  the  won- 
ders and  beauties  of  nature.  How  glo- 
riously the  God  of  creation  shines  in  his 
works.  Not  a  tree,  or  leaf,  or  flower, 
not  a  bird  or  insect,  but  it  proclaims  in 
glowing  language,  /'God  made  me." 

As  I  approached  the  village  where  the 
good  old  dairyman  dwelt,  I  observed  him 
in  a  little  field,  driving  his  two  cows  be- 
fore him  towards  a  yard  and  hovel  which 
adjoined  his  cottage.  I  advanced  very 
near  him  without  his  observing  me,  for 
his  sight  was  dim.     On  my  calling  out 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  55 


to  him,  he  started  at  the  sound  of  my 
voice,  but  with  much  gladness  of  heart 
welcomed  me,  saying,  "  Bless  your  heart, 


56         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

sir,  I  am  glad  you  are  come ;  we  have 
looked  for  you  every  day  this  week." 

The  cottage-door  opened,  and  the 
daughter  came  out,  followed  by  her  aged 
and  infirm  mother.  The  sight  of  me  nat- 
urally brought  to  recollection  the  grave 
at  which  we  had  before  met.  Tears  of 
affection  mingled  with  the  smile  of  satis- 
faction with  which  I  was  received  by 
these  worthy  cottagers.  I  dismounted, 
and  was  conducted  through  a  neat  little 
garden,  part  of  which  was  shaded  by 
two  large  overspreading  elm-trees,  to 
the  house.  Decency  and  order  were 
manifested  within  and  without.  No  ex- 
cuse was  made  here,  on  the  score  of  pov- 
erty, for  confusion  and  uncleanliness  in 
the  disposal  of  their  little  household. 
Every  thing  wore  the  aspect  of  neatness 
and  propriety.  On  each  side  of  the  fire- 
place stood  an  old  oaken  arm-chair,  where 
the  venerable  parents  rested  their  weary 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  57 

limbs  after  the  day's  labor  was  over.  On 
a  shelf  in  one  corner  lay  two  Bibles,  with 
a  few  religious  books  and  tracts.  The 
little  room  had  two  windows:  a  lovely 
prospect  of  hills,  woods,  and  fields,  ap- 
peared through  one  j  the  other  was  more 
than  half  obscured  by  the  branches  of  a 
vine  which  was  trained  across  it;  be- 
tween its  leaves  the  sun  shone,  and  cast 
a  cheerful  light  over  the  whole  place. 

"This,"  thought  I,  " is  a  fit  residence 
for  piety,  peace,-and  contentment.  May 
I  learn  a  fresh  lesson  for  advancement 
in  each,  through  the  blessing  of  God  on 
this  visit." 

"Sir,"  said  the  daughter,  "we  are  not 
worthy  that  you  should  come  under  our 
roof.  We  take  it  very  kind  that  you 
should  travel  so  far  to  see  us." 

"My  Master,"  I  replied,  "came  a  great 
deal  further  to  visit  us  poor  sinners.  He 
left  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  laid  aside 


58  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

his  glory,  and  came  down  to  this  lower 
world  on  a  visit  of  mercy  and  Jove ;  and 
ought  not  we,  if  we  profess  to  follow  him, 
to  bear  each  other's  infirmities,  and  go 
about  doing  good,  as  he  did?" 

The  old  man  now  entered,  and  joined 
his  wife  and  daughter  in  giving  me  a 
cordial  welcome.  Our  conversation  soon 
turned  to  the  loss  they  had  so  lately  sus- 
tained. The  pious  and  sensible  disposi- 
tion of  the  daughter  was  peculiarly  man- 
ifested, as  well  in  what  she  said  to  her 
parents,  as  in  what  she  more  immediate- 
ly addressed  to  myself.  I  had  now  a 
further  opportunity  of  remarking  the  good 
sense  and  agreeable  manner  which  ac- 
companied her  expressions  of  devoted- 
ness  to  God,  and  love  to  Christ  for  the 
great  mercies  which  he  had  bestowed 
upon  her.  During  her  residence  in  dif- 
ferent gentlemen's  families  where  she 
had  been  in  service,  she  had  acquired  a 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  59 

superior  behavior  and  address ;  but  sin- 
cere piety  rendered  her  very  humble 
and  unassuming  in  manner  and  conver- 
sation. She  seemed  anxious  to  improve 
the  opportunity  of  my  visit  to  the  best 
purpose  for  her  own  and  her  parents7 
sake  ;  yet  there  was  nothing  of  unbecom- 
ing forwardness,  no  self-confidence  or 
conceited ness  in  her  conduct,  She  united 
the  firmness  and  solicitude  of  the  Chris- 
tian with  the  modesty  of  the  female  and 
the  dutifulness  of  the  daughter.  It  was 
impossible  to  be  in  her  company,  and  not 
observe  how  truly  her  temper  and  con- 
versation^ adorned  the  principles  which 
she  professed. 

I  soon  discovered  how  eager  and  how 
successful  also  she  had  been  in  her  en- 
deavors to  bring  her  father  and  mother 
to  the  knowledge  and  experience  of  the 
truth.  This  is  a  lovely  feature  in  the 
character  of  a  '  young  Christian.      If  it 


60  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

have  pleased  God,  in  the  free  dispensa- 
tion of  his  mercy,  to  call  the  child  by  his 
grace,  while  the  parent  remains  still  in 
ignorance  and  sin,  how  great  is  the  duty 
incumbent  on  that  child  to  do  what  is 
possible  to  promote  the  conversion  of 
those  to  whom  so  much  is  owing.  Hap- 
py is  it  when  the  ties  of  grace  sanctify 
those  of  nature. 

The  aged  couple  evidently  regarded 
and  spoke  of  this  daughter  as  their  teach- 
er and  admonisher  in  divine  things,  while 
at  the  same  time  they  received  from  her 
every  token  of  filial  submission  and  obe- 
dience, testified  by  continual  endeavors 
to  serve  and  assist  them  to  the  utmost  of 
her  power  in  the  daily  concerns  of  the 
household. 

The  religion  of  this  young  woman  was 
of  a  highly  spiritual  character,  and  of  no 
ordinary  attainment.  Her  views  of  the 
divine  plan  in  saving  the  sinner  were 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  61 

clear  and  scriptural.  She  spoke  much  of 
the  joys  and  sorrows  which,  in  the  course 
of  her  religious  progress,  she  had  expe-  * 
rienced ;  but  she  was  fully  sensible  that 
there  is  far  more  in  real  religion  than 
mere  occasional  transition  from  one  frame 
of  mind  and  spirits  to  another.  She  be- 
lieved that  the  experimental  acquaintance 
of  the  heart  with  God  principally  con- 
sisted in  so  living  upon  Christ  by  faith, 
as  to  aim  at  living  like  him  by  love.  She 
knew  that  the  love  of  God  toward  the 
sinner,  and  the  path  of  duty  prescribed 
to  the  sinner,  are  both  of  an  unchangea- 
ble nature.  In  a  believing  dependence  on 
the  one,  and  an  affectionate  walk  in  the 
other,  she  sought  and  found  "the  peace 
of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding ;" 
"for  so  he.giveth  his  beloved  sleep.'7 

She  had  read  but  few  books  besides 
her  Bible ;  but  these  few  were  excellent 
in  their  kind,  and  she  spoke  of  their  con-  • 


62         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

tents  as  one  who  knew  their  value.  •  In 
addition  to  a  Bible  and  prayer-book, 
Doddridge's  "Rise  and  Progress,"  Ro- 
maine's  "Life,  Walk,  and  Triumph  of 
Faith,"  Bunyan's  'Pilgrim,"  Alleine's. 
"Alarm,"  Baxter's  "Saints'  Everlasting 
Rest,"  a  hymn-book,  and  a  few  tracts 
completed  her  library. 

I  observed  in  her  countenance  a  pale 
and  delicate  hue,  which  I  afterwards 
found  to  be  a  presage  of  consumption; 
and  the  idea  then  occurred  to  me  that 
she  would  not  live  very  long. 

Time  passed  on  swiftly  with  this  inter- 
esting family ;  and  after  having  partaken 
of  some  plain  and  wholesome*  refresh- 
ment, and  enjoyed  a  few  hours'  conver- 
sation with  them,  I  found  it  was  necessa- 
ry for  me  to  return  homewards.  The 
disposition  and  character  of  the  parties 
may  be  in  some  sort  ascertained  by  the 
expressions  at  parting. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  63 

"God  send  you  safe  home  again,"  said 
the  aged  mother,  "and  bless  the  day 
that  brought  you  to  see  two  poor  old 
creatures,  such  as  we  are,  in  our.  trouble 
and  affliction.  Come  again,  sir,  come 
again  when  you  can ;  and  though  I  am  a 
poor  ignorant  soul,  and  not  fit  to  talk  to 
such  a  gentleman  as  you,  yet  my  clear 
child  shall  speak  for  me ;  she  is  the 
greatest  comfort  I  have  left,  and  I  hope 
the  good  Lord  will  spare  her  to  support 
my  trembling  limbs  and  feeble  spirits, 
till  I  lie  down  with  my  other  dear  de- 
parted children  in  the  grave." 

"Trust  to  the  Lord,'7  I  answered,  "and 
remember  his  gracious  promise :  '  Even 
to  your  old  age  I  am  he ;  and  even  to 
hoar  hairs  I  will  carry  you.' " 

"I  thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  daughter, 
"for  your  Christian  kindness  to  me  and 
my  friends.  I  believe  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  has  attended  your  visit,  and  I  hope 


64         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

I  have  experienced  it  to  be  so.  My 
dear  father  and  mother,  will,  I  am  sure, 
remember  it  •  and  I  rejoice  in  the  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  so  kind  a  friend  under 
this  roof.  My  Saviour  has  been  abun- 
dantly good  to  me  in  plucking  me  '  as  a 
brand  from  the  burning,'  and  showing 
me  the  way  of  life  and  peace  ;  and  I  hope 
it  is  my  heart's  desire  to  live  to  his  glory. 
But  I  long  to  see  these  dear  friends  enjoy 
the  power  and  comfort  of  religion  like- 
wise." 

"I  think  it  evident,"  I  replied,  "that 
the  promise  is  fulfilled  in  their  case :  '  It 
shall  come  to  pass,  that  at  evening  time 
it  shall  be  light.'  " 

"  I  believe  it,"  she  said,  "and  praise 
God  for  the  blessed  hope." 

"Thank  him  too,  that  you  have  been 
the  happy  instrument  of  bringing  them 
to  the  light." 

"I  do,  sir;  yet  when  I  think  of  my 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  .        65 

own  un worthiness  and  insufficiency,  I  re- 
joice with  trembling." 

"Sir,"  said  the  good  old  man,  "I  am 
sure  the  Lord  will  reward  you  for  this 
kindness.  Pray  for  us,  old  as  we  are, 
and  sinners  as  we  have  been,  that  yet  he 
would  have  mercy  upon  us  at  the  elev- 
enth hour.  Poor  Betsey  strives  much  for 
our  sakes,  both  in  body  and  soul ;  she 
works  hard  all  day  to  save  us  trouble, 
and  I  fear  has  not  strength  to  support 
all  she  does ;  and  then  she  talks  to  us, 
and  reads  to  us,  and  prays  for  us,  that 
we  may  be  saved  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
Indeed,  sir,  she  's  a  rare  child  to  us." 

11  Peace  be  to  you,  and  to  all  that  be- 
long to  you." 

"  Amen,  and  thank  you,  dear  sir,"  was 
echoed  from  each  tongue. 

Thus  we  parted  for  that  time.  My 
returning  meditations  were  sweet,  and  I 
hope  profitable. 


66  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

Many  other  visits  were  afterwards 
made  by  me  to  this  peaceful  cottage,  and 
I  always  found  increasing  reason  to  thank 
God  for  the  intercourse  I  there  enjoyed. 

An  interval  of  some  length  occurred 
once  during  that  year,  in  which  I  had 
not  seen  the  dairyman's  family.  I  was 
reminded  of  the  circumstance  by  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  following  letter. 

"Rev.  Sir — I  have  been  expecting  to 
see  or  hear  from  you  for  a  considerable 
time.  Excuse  the  liberty*!  take  in  send- 
ing you  another  letter.  I  have  been 
confined  to  the  house  the  greater  part  of 

the  time  since  I  left .     I  took  cold 

that  day,  and  have  been  worse  ever  since. 
I  walk  out  a  little  on  these  fine  days, 
but  seem  to  myself  to  walk  very  near 
the  borders  of  eternity.  Glory  be  to 
God,  it  is  a  very  pleasing  prospect  be- 
fore me.     Though  I  feel  the  workings  of 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  67 

sin,  and  am  abased,  yet  Jesus  shows  his 
mercy  to  be  mine,  and  I  trust  that  I  am 
his.     At  such  times, 

"'My  soul  would  leave  this  heavy  clay 
At  his  transporting  word, 
Kun  up  with  joy  the  shining  way 
To  meet  and  prove  the  Lord. 

'"Fearless  of  hell  and  ghastly  death, 
I  'd  break  through  every  foe  ; 
The  wings  of  love  and  arms  of  faith 
Would  bear  me  captive  through.' 

My  desire  is  to  live  every  moment  to 
God,  that  I  may,  through  his  grace,  be 
kept  in  that  heavenly,  happy  frame  of 
mind  that  I  shall  wish  for  at  the  hour  of 
death.  We  cannot  live  nor  die  happy 
without  this ;  and  to  keep  it,  we  must  be 
continually  watching  and  praying ;  for  we 
have  many  enemies  to  disturb  our  peace. 
I  am  so  very  weak,  that  now  I  can  go 
nowhere  to  any  outward  means  for  that 
help  which  is  so  refreshing  to  my  spirit. 
"I  should  have  been  very  happy  to 


68  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

have  heard  you  last  Sunday,  when  you 

preached  at .     I  could  not  walk  so 

far.  I  hope  the  word  spoken  by  you 
was  made  a  blessing  to  many  who  heard 
it.  It  was  my  earnest  prayer  to  God 
that  it  might  be  so.  But  alas,  once  call- 
ing does  not  awaken  many  that  are  in  a 
sound  sleep.  Yet  the  voice  of  God  is 
sometimes  very  powerful,  when  his  min- 
isters speak — when  they  are  influenced 
by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  are  simple  and 
sincere  in  holding  forth  the  word  of  life. 
Then  it  will  teach  us  all  things,  and  en- 
lighten our  mind  and  reveal  unto  us  the 
hidden  things  of  darkness,  and  give  us 
out  of  that  divine  treasure  'things  new 
and  old.'  Besting  on  God  to  work  in  us 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  own  good 
pleasure,  we  ought  always  to  work  as  dil- 
igent servants,  that  know  they  have  a 
good  Master,  that  will  surely  not  forget 
their  labor  of  love. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  69 

"If  we  could  but  fix  our 'eyes  always 
on  that  crown  of  glory  that  awaits  us  in 
the  skies,  we  should  never  grow  weary 
in  well-doing  ■  but  should  run  with  pa- 
tience and  delight  in  the  work  and  ways 
of  God,  where  he  appoints  us.  We  should 
not  then,  as  we  too  frequently  do,  suffer 
these  trifling  objects  here  on  earth  to 
draw  away  our  minds  from  Gocl,  to  rob 
him  of  his  glory,  and  our  souls  of  that 
happiness  and  comfort  which  the  believer 
may  enjoy  amidst  outward  afflictions.  If 
we  thus  lived  more  by  faith  in  the  Son 
of  God,  we  should  endeavor  to  stir  up 
all  whom  we  could  to  seek  after  God. 
We  should  tell  them  what  he  has  done 
for  us,  and  what  he  would  do  for  them, 
if  they  truly  sought  him.  We  should 
show  them  what  a  glorious  expectation 
there  is  for  all  true  believers  and  sincere 
seekers. 

"When  our  minds  are  so  fixed  on  God, 


10         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

we  are  more  desirous  of  glorifying  him, 
in  making  known  his  goodness  to  us,  than 
the  proud  rich  man  is  of  getting  honor  to 
himself.  I  mourn  over  my  own  back- 
wardness to  this  exercise  of  duty,  when 
I  think  of  God's  willingness  to  save  the 
vilest  of  the  vile,  according  to  the  dis- 
pensations of  his  eternal  grace  and  mer- 
cy. Oh,  how  amiable,  how  lovely,  does 
this  make  that  God  of  love  appear  to  poor 
sinners,  that  can  view  him  as  such.  How 
is  the  soul  delighted  with  such  a  contem- 
plation. They  that  have  much  forgiven, 
how  much  they  love. 

"These  thoughts  have  been  much  on 

my  mind  since  the  death  of  .      I 

trust  the  Lord  will  pardon  me  for  neglect. 
I  thought  it  was  my  duty  to  speak  or 
write  to  him  ;  you  remember  what  I  said 
to  you  respecting  it.  But  I  still  delayed 
till  a  more  convenient  season.  Oh,  how 
I  was  struck  when  I  heard  the  Lord  had 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  Tl 

taken  him  so  suddenly.  I  was  filled 
with  sorrow  and  shame  for  having  neg- 
lected what  I  had  so  often  resolved  to 
do.  But  now  the  time  of  speaking  for 
God  to  him  was  over.  Hence  we  see 
that  the  Lord's  time  is  the  best  time. 
Now  the  night  of  death  was  come  upon 
him ;  no  more  work  was  to  be  clone.  If 
I  had  done  all  that  lay  in  my  power  to 
proclaim  reconciliation  by  Christ  to  his 
soul,  whether  he  had  heard  or  no,  I  should 
have  been  clear  of  his  blood.  But  I  can- 
not recall  the  time  that  is  past,  nor  him 
from  the  grave.  Had  I  known  the  Lord 
would  have  called  him  so  suddenly,  how 
diligent  I  should  have  been  to  warn  him 
of  his  danger.  But  it  is  enough  that  God 
shows  us  what  we  are  to  do,  and  not  what 
he  is  about  to  do  with  us  or  any  of  his 
creatures.  Pray,  sir,  do  all  you  can  for 
the  glory  of  God.  The  time  will  soon 
pass  by,  and  then  we  shall  enter  that 


72         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

glorious  rest  that  he  hath  prepared  for 
them  that  love  him.  I  pray  God  to  fill 
you  with  that  zeal  and  love  which  he 
only  can  inspire,  that  you  may  daily  win 
souls  to  Christ.  May  he  deliver  you 
from  all  slavish  fear  of  man,  and  give 
you  boldness,  as  he  did  of  old  those  that 
were  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with 
power. 

"Remember,  Christ  hath  promised  to 
be  with  all  his  faithful'  ministers  to  the 
end  of  time.  The  greater  dangers  and 
difficulties  they  are  exposed  to,  the  more 
powerful  his  assistance.  Then,  sir,  let 
us  fear  none  but  him.  I  hope  you  will 
pray  much  for  me,  a  poor  sinner,  that 
God  will  perfect  his  strength  in  my  weak- 
ness of  body  and  mind,  for  without  him 
I  can  do  nothing.  But  when  I  can  ex- 
perience the  teaching  of  that  Holy  One, 
I  need  no  other  teacher.  May  the  Lord 
anoint  you  with  the  same,  and  give  you 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  73 

every  grace  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  that  you 
may  be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God ; 
that  you  may  know  what  is  the  height 
and  depth,  the  length  and  breadth,  of  the 
love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  •  that  you 
may  be,  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  as  a 
keen  archer  to  draw  the  bow,  while  the 
Lord  directs  and  fastens  the  arrows  of 
conviction  in  the  hearts  of  such  as  are 
under  your  ministry. 

"I  sincerely  pray  that  you  may  be 
made  a  blessing  to  him  that  has  taken 
tlie  place  of  the  deceased.  I  have  heard 
that  you  are  fellow-countrymen ;  I  hope 
you  are,  however,  both  as  strangers  in 
this  world,  that  have  no  abiding-place, 
but  seek  a  country  out  of  sight. 

"Pray  excuse  all  faults.  From  your 
humble  servant  in  the  bonds  of  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ, 

«  E.  W ." 


X4  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

When  I  perused  this  and  other  letters 
which  were  at  different  times  written  to 
me  by  the  dairyman's  daughter,  I  felt 
that  in  the  person  of  this  interesting  cor- 
respondent were  singularly  united  the 
characters  of  a  humble  disciple  and  a 
faithful  monitor.  I  wished  to  acknow- 
ledge the  goodness  of  God  in  each  of 
these  her  capacities. 

I  sometimes  entertain  a  hope  that  the 
last  day  will  unfold  the  value  of  these 
epistolary  communications,  beyond  even 
any  present  estimate  of  their  spiritual 
importance. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  15 


PART  IV. 

The  translation  of  sinners  "from  the 
power  of  darkness  into  the  kingdom  of 
God's  dear  Son,"  is  the  joy  of  Christians 
and  the  admiration  of  angels.  Every 
penitent  and  pardoned  soul  is  a  new  wit- 
ness to  the  triumphs  of  the  Redeemer 
over  sin,  death,  and  the  grave.  How 
great  the  change  that  is  wrought.  The 
child  of  wrath  becomes  a  monument  of 
grace — a  brand  plucked  from  the  burn- 
ing. "If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is 
a  new  creature :  old  things  are  passed 
away;  behold,  all  things  are  become 
new.77  How  marvellous,  how  interest- 
ing, is  the  spiritual  history  of  each  indi- 
vidual believer.  He  is,  like  David,  "a 
wonder  to  many,"  but  the  greatest  won- 
der of  all  to  himself.     Others  may  doubt 


16         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

whether  it  be  so  or  not ;  but  to  him  it  is 
unequivocally  proved,  that  from  first  to 
last,  grace  alone  reigns  in  the  work  of 
his  salvation. 

The  character  and  privileges  of  real 
Christians  are  beautifully  described  in 
the  language  of  our  church,  who,  when 
speaking  of  the  objects  of  divine  favor 
and  compassion,  says,  "They  that  be 
endued  with  so  excellent  a  benefit  of 
God,  be  called  according  to  God's  pur- 
pose in  due  season:  they  through  grace 
obey  the  calling ;  they  be  justified  freely  • 
they  be  made  sons  of  God  by  adoption  ■ 
they  be  made  like  the  image  of  his  only 
begotten  Son  Jesus  Christ;  they  walk 
religiously  in  good  works  ;  and  at  length, 
by  God's  mercy,  they  attain  to  everlast- 
ing felicity." 

Such  a  conception  and  display  of  the 
almighty  wisdom,  power,  and  love,  is 
indeed  "full  of  sweet,  pleasant,  and  un- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         11 

speakable  comfort  to  godly  persons,  and 
such  as  feel  in  themselves  the  working 
of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  mortifying  the 
works  of  the  flesh,  and  their  earthly 
members,  and  drawing  up  their  minds 
to  high  and  heavenly  things;  it  doth 
greatly  establish  and  confirm  their  faith 
of  eternal  salvation,  to  be  enjoyed  through 
Christ,  and  doth  fervently  kindle  their 
love  towards  God.'7 

Nearly  allied  to  the  consolation  of  a 
good  hope  through  grace,  as  it  respects 
our  own  personal  state  before  God,  is 
that  of  seeing  its  evidences  shed  lustre 
over  the  disposition  and  conduct  of  oth- 
ers. Bright  was  the  exhibition  of  the 
union  between  true  Christian  enjoyment 
and  Christian  exertion,  in  the  character 
whose  moral  and  spiritual  features  I  am 
attempting  to  delineate. 

It  seemed  to  be  the  first  wish  of  her 
heart  to  prove  to  others,  what  God  had 


78  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

proved  to  her,  that  Jesus  is  "the  way, 
and  the  truth,  and  the  life."  She  desired 
to  evince  the  reality  of  her  calling,  justi- 
fication, and  adoption  into  the  family  of 
God,  by  showing  a  conformity  to  the 
image  of  Christ,  and  by  walking  "relig- 
iously in  good  works ;"  she  trusted  that 
in  this  path  of  faith  and  obedience  she 
should  "at  length,  by  God's  mercy,  attain 
to  everlasting  felicity.'7 

I  had  the  spiritual  charge  of  another 
parish,  adjoining  to  that  in  which  I  re- 
sided. It  was  a  small  district,  and  had 
but  few  inhabitants.  The  church  was 
pleasantly  situated  on  a  rising  bank,  at 
the  foot  of  a  considerable  hill.  It  was 
surrounded  by  trees,  and  had  a  rural, 
retired  appearance.  Close  to  the  church- 
yard stood  a  large  old  mansion,  which 
had  formerly  been  the  residence  of  an 
opulent  and  titled  family;  but  it  had 
long  since  been  appropriated  to  the  use 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  79 

of  the  estate  as  a  farm-house.  Its  out- 
ward aspect  bore  considerable  remains 
of  ancient  grandeur,  and  gave  a  pleasing 
character  to  the  spot  of  ground  on  which 
the  church  stood. 

In  every  direction  the  roads  that  led 
to  this  house  of  God  possessed  distinct 
but  interesting  features.  One  of  them 
ascended  between  several  rural  cottages, 
from  the  sea-shore,  which  adjoined  the 
lower  part  of  the  village  street,  An- 
other winded  round  the  curved  sides  of 
the  adjacent  hill,  and  was  adorned,  both 
abtrve  and  below,  with  numerous  sheep, 
feeding  on  the  herbage  of  the  down.  A 
third  road  led  to  the  church  by  a  gently 
rising  approach*  between  high  banks, 
covered  with  young  trees,  bushes,  ivy, 
hedge-plants,  and  wild  flowers. 

From  a  point  of  land  which  commanded 
a  view  of  all  these  several  avenues,  I 
used  sometimes  for  a  while  to  watch  my 


80         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

congregation  gradually  assembling  to- 
gether at  the  hour  of  Sabbath  worship. 
They  were  in  some  directions  visible  for 
a  considerable  distance.  Gratifying  as- 
sociations of  thought  would  form  in  my 
mind  as  I  contemplated  their  approach 
and  successive  arrival  within  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  house  of  prayer. 

One  day,  as  I  was  thus  occupied,  dur- 
ing a  short  interval  previous  to  the  hour 
of  divine  service,  I  reflected  on  the  joy 
which  David  experienced  at  the  time  he 
exclaimed,  "J  wras  glad  when  they  said 
unto  me,  Let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord.  Our  feet  shall  stand  within  thy 
gates,  0  Jerusalem.  Jerusalem  is  builcl- 
ed  as  a  city  that  is  compact,  together; 
whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of 
the  Lord,  unto  the  testimony  of  Israel, 
to  "•give  thanks  unto  the  name  of  the 
Lord.7' 

I  was  led  to  reflect  upon  the  various 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  81 

blessings  connected  with  the  establish- 
ment of  public  worship.  "How  many 
immortal  souls  are  now  gathering  to- 
gether to  perform  the  all-important  work 
of  prayer  and  praise,  to  hear  the  word 
of  God,  and  to  feed  upon  the  bread  of 
life.  They  are  leaving  their  respective 
dwellings,  and  will  soon  be  united  to- 
gether in  the  house  of  prayer.  How 
beautifully  does  this  represent  the  effect 
produced  by  the  voice  of  the  'Good 
Shepherd/  calling  his  sheep  from  every 
part  of  the  wilderness  into  his  fold.  As 
these  fields,  hills,  and  lanes  are  now 
covered  with  men,  women,  and  children, 
in  various  directions  drawing  nearer  to 
each  other,  and  to  the  object  of  their 
journey's  end  ;  even  so,  many  '  shall  come 
from  the  east,  and  from  the  west,  and 
from  the  north,  and  from  the  south,  and 
shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God.7 " 
Who  can  rightly  appreciate  the  value 


82  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

of  such  hours  as  these? — hours  spent  in 
learning  the  ways  of  holy  pleasantness 
and  the  paths  of  heavenly  peace — hours 
devoted  to  the  service  of  God  and  of 
souls ;  in  warning  the  sinner  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come ;  in  teaching  the  igno- 
rant how  to  live  and  die ;  in  preaching 
the  gospel .  to  the  poor ;  in  healing  the 
broken-hearted;  in  declaring  "deliver- 
ance to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of 
sight  to  the  blind/'7  "Blessed  is  the  peo- 
ple that  know  the  joyful  sound ;  they 
shall  walk,  0  Lord,  in  the  light  of  thy 
countenance.  In  thy  name  they  shall 
rejoice  all  the  day,  and  in  thy  righteous- 
ness shall  they  be  exalted." 

My  thoughts  then  pursued  a  train  of 
reflection  on  the  importance  of  the  min- 
isterial office,  as  connected  in  the  pur- 
poses of  God  with  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ners. I  inwardly  prayed  that  those 
many  individuals  whom   he  had  given 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  83 

me  to  instruct,  might  not,  through  my 
neglect  or  error,  be  as  sheep  having  no 
shepherd,  nor  as  the  blind  led  by  the 
blind ;  but  rather  that  I  might,  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  faithfully  proclaim  the 
simple  and  undisguised  truths  of  the  gos- 
pel, to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  pros- 
perity of  his  church. 

At  that  instant,  near  the  bottom  of  the 
enclosed  lane  which  led  to  the  church- 
yard, I  observed  a  friend,  whom,  at  such 
a  distance  from  his  home,  I  little  expect- 
ed to  meet.  It  was  the  venerable  dairy- 
man. He  came  up  the  ascent,  leaning 
with  one  hand  m  on  his  trusty  staff,  and 
with  the  other  on  the  arm  of  a  younger 
man,  well  known  to  me,  who  appeared 
to  be  much  gratified  in  meeting  with  such 
a  companion  by  the  way. 

My  station  was  on  the  top  of  one  of 
the  banks  which  formed  the  hollow  road 
beneath.     They  passed  a  few  yards  be- 


84  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

low  me.  I  was  concealed  from  their 
sight  by  a  projecting  tree.  They  were 
talking  of  the  mercies  of  God,  and  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  his  grace.  The 
dairyman  was  telling  his  companion  what 
a  blessing  the  Lord  had  given  him  in  his 
daughter.  His  countenance  brightened 
as  he  named  her,  and  called  her  his  pre? 
cious  Betsey. 

I  met  them  at  a  stile  not  many  yards 
beyond,  and  accompanied  them  to  the 
church,  which  was  hard  by. 

"Sir,"  said  -the  old  man,  "I  have 
brought  a  letter  from  my  daughter.  I 
hope  I  am  in  time  for  divine  service. 
Seven  miles  has  now  become  a  long  walk 
for  me;  I  grow  old  and  weak.  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you,  sir.'7 

"How  is  your  daughter?" 

"Yery  poorly  indeed,  sir:  very  poor- 
ly. The  doctors  say  it  is  a  decline.  I 
sometimes  hope  she  will  get  the  better 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  85 

of  it;  but  then  again  I  have  many  fears. 
You  know,  sir,  that  I  have  cause  to  love 
and  prize  her.  Oh,  it  would  be  such  a 
trial ;  but  the  Lord  knows  what  is  best. 
Excuse  my  weakness,  sir." 

He  put  a  letter  into  my  hand,  the  peru- 
sal of  which  I  reserved  till  afterwards,  as 
the  time  was  nigh  for  going  into  church. 

The  presence  of  this  aged  pilgrim,  the 
peculiar  reverence  and  affection  with 
which  he  joined  in  the  different  parts 
of  the  service,  excited  many  gratifying 
thoughts  in  my  mind;  such  as  rather 
furthered  than  interrupted  devotion. 

The  train  of  reflection  in  which  I  had 
been  engaged  when  I  first  discovered 
him  on  the  road,  at  intervals  recurred 
powerfully  to  my  feelings,  as  I  viewed 
that  very  congregation  assembled  to- 
gether in  the  house  of  God,  whose  steps, 
in  their  approach  towards  it,  I  had  watch- 
ed with  prayerful  emotions. 


86-        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"Here  the  rich  and  poor  meet  together 
in  mutual  acknowledgment  that  the  Lord 
is  the  Maker  of  them  all ;  and  that  all 
are  alike  dependent  creatures,  looking 
up  to  one  common  Father  to  supply  their 
wants,  both  temporal  and  spiritual. 

"Again,  likewise,  will  they  meet  to- 
gether in  the  grave,  that  undistinguished 
receptacle  of  the  opulent  and  the  needy. 

"And  once  more,  at  the  judgment-seat 
of  Christ,  shall  the  rich  and  the  poor 
meet  together,  that  'every  one  may  re- 
ceive the  things  done  in  his  body,  accord- 
ing to  that  he  hath  done,  whether  it  be 
good  or  bad.' 

' '  How  closely  connected  in  the  history 
of  man  are  these  three  periods  of  a  gen- 
eral meeting  together. 

"The  house  of  prayer,  the  house  ap- 
pointed for  all  living,  and  the  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
May  we  never  separate  these  ideas  from 


.    THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  8? 

each  other,  but  retain  them  in  a  sacred 
and  profitable  union.  So  shall  our  wor- 
shipping assemblies  on  earth  be  repre- 
sentatives of  the  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  first-born,  which  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven. :; 

When  the  congregation  dispersed,  I 
entered  into  discourse  with  the  dairyman 
and  a  few  of  the  poor  of  my  flock  whose 
minds  were  of  the  like  disposition  to  his 
own.  He  seldom  could  speak  long  to- 
gether without  some  reference  to  his  dear 
child.  He  loved  to  tell  how  merciful  his 
God  had  been  to  him,  in  the  dutiful  and 
affectionate  attentions  of  his  daughter. 
All  real  Christians  feel  a  tender  spiritual 
attachment  towards  those  who  have  been 
the  instrument  of  bringing  them  to  an 
effectual  knowledge  of  the  way  of  salva- 
tion ;  but  when  that  instrument  is  one  so 
nearly  allied,  how  dear  does  the  relation- 
ship become. 


88  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.     , 

If  my  friend  the  dairyman  was  in"  any 
danger  of  falling  into  idolatry,  his  child 
would  have  been  the  idol  of  his  affections. 
She  was  the  prop  and  stay  of  her  par- 
ents7 declining  years,  and  they  scarcely 
knew  how  sufficiently  to  testify  the  grat- 
itude of  their  hearts  for  the  comfort  and 
blessing  which  she  was  the  means  of 
affording  them. 

While  he  was  relating  several  partic- 
ulars of  his  family  history  to  the  others, 
I  opened  and  read  the  following  letter : 

"Sir — Once  more  I  take  the  libertv 
to  trouble  you  with  a  few  lines.  I  re- 
ceived your  letter  with  great  pleasure, 
and  thank  you  for  it.  I  am  now  so  weak 
that  I  am  unable  to  walk  to  any  public 
place  of  divine  worship,  a  privilege  which 
has  heretofore  always  so  much  strength- 
ened and  refreshed  me.  I  used  to  go 
in  anxious  expectation  to  meet-  my  God, 
and  hold,  sweet   communion  with   him, 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  89 

and  I  was  seldom  disappointed.  In  the 
means  of  grace,  all  the  channels  of  divine 
mercy  are  open  to  every  heart  that  is 
lifted  up  to  receive  out  of  that  divine 
fulness  grace  for  grace.  These  are  the 
times  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord.  How  have  I  rejoiced  to  hear 
a  faithful  and  lively  messenger,  just  come, 
as  it  were,  from  communion  with  God  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  with  his  heart  warm- 
ed and  filled  with  divine  love,  to  speak 
to  fallen  sinners.  Such  a  one  has  seemed 
to  me  as  if  his  face  shone  as  that  of 
Moses  did  with  the  glory  of  God,  when 
he  came  clown  from  the  mount,  where  he 
had  been  within  the  veil.  May  you,  sir, 
imitate  him,  as  he  did  Christ,  that  all 
may  see  and  know  that  the  Lord  dwell- 
eth  with  you,  and  that,  you  dwell  in  him 
through  the  unity  of  the  blessed  Spirit. 
I  trust  you  are  no  stranger  to  his  divine 
teaching,  aid,  and  assistance,  in  all  you 


90         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

set  your  hand  to  do  for  the  glory  of 
God. 

"I hope,  sir,  the  sincerity  of  my  wishes 
for  your  spiritual  welfare  will  plead  an 
excuse  for  the  freedom  of  my  address  to 
you.  I  pray  the  Giver  of  every  perfect 
gift,  that  you  may  experience  the  mighty 
workings  of  his  gracious  Spirit  in  your 
heart  and  your  ministry,  and  rest  your 
all  on  the  justifying  and  purifying  blood 
of  an  expiring  Redeemer.  Then  will 
you  triumph  in  his  strength,  and  be  ena- 
bled to  say  with  the  poet, 
.» 

" '  Shall  I,  through  fear  of  feeble  men, 
The  Spirit's  course  strive  to  restrain? 
Or,  undismayed  in  deed  and  word, 
Be  a  true  witness  for  my  Lord  ? 

" '  Awed  by  a  mortal's  frown,  shall  I 
Conceal  the  word  of  God  most  high  ? 
How  then  before  thee  shall  I  dare 
To  stand,  or  how  thine  anger  bear  ? 

" '  Shall  I,  to  soothe  th'  unholy  throng, 
Soften  thy  truths  and  smooth  my  tongue, 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  91 

To  gain  earth's  gilded  toys,  or  flee 
The  cross  endured,  my  God,  by  thee  ? 

"'What  then  is  he  whose  scorn  I  dread? 
"Whose  wrath  or  hate  makes  me  afraid  ? 
A  man,  an  heir  of  death,  a  slave 
To  sin,  a  bubble  on  the  wave. 

" '  Yea,  let  men  rage,  since  thou  wilt  spread 
Thy  shadowing  wings  around  my  head  ; 
Since  in  all  pain  thy  tender  love 
Will  still  my  sure  refreshment  prove. 

" '  Still  shall  the  love  of  Christ  constrain 
To  seek  the  wandering  souls  of  men, 
With  cries,  entreaties,  tears  to  save, 
And  snatch  them  from  the  yawning  grave. 

" '  For  this  let  men  revile  my  name, 
No  cross  I  shun,  I  fear  no  shame  ; 
All  hail  reproach,  and  welcome  pain, 
Only  thy  terrors,  Lord,  restrain.' 

' '  I  trust,  sir,  that  you  see  what  a  glo- 
rious high  calling  yours  is,  and  that  you 
are  one  of  those  who  walk  humbly  with 
God,  that  you  may  be  taught  of  him  in 
all  things.     Persons  in  your  place  are 


92         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

messengers  of  the  most  high  God.  Is  it 
too  much  to  say,  they  should  live  like 
the  angels  in  all  holiness,  and  be  filled 
with  love  and  zeal  for  men's  souls  ?  They 
are  ambassadors,  in  Christ's  stead,  to  per- 
suade sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 
So  that  your  calling  is  above  that  of  an- 
gels, for  they  are  afterward  to  minister 
to  the  heirs  of  salvation;  but  the  sinner 
must  be  first  reconciled  to  God.  And 
you  are  called  on  from  day  to  day  to 
intercede  with  man  as  his  friend,  that 
you  may  win  souls  to  Christ.  Christ  is 
ascended  up  on  high,  to  intercede  with 
his  Father  for  guilty  sinners,  and  to  plead 
for  them  the  merits  of  his  death.  So 
that  Christ  and  his  faithful  ministers, 
through  the  operation  of  the  blessed  Spir- 
it, are  coworkers  together.  Yet  without 
him  we  can  do  nothing ;  our  strength  is 
his  strength,  and  his  is  all  the  glory  from 
first  to  last. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         93 

"It  is  my  heart's  prayer  and  desire, 
sir,  that  you  may,  by  a  living  faith,  cleave 
close  to  that  blessed,  exalted  Lamb  of 
God  who  died  to  redeem  us  from  sin — that 
you  may  have  a  sweet  communion  with 
Father,  Son,  and  Spirit — that  you  may 
sink  deep  in  humble  love  and  rise  high 
in  the  life  of  God.  Thus  will  you  have 
such  discoveries  of  the  beauties  of  Christ 
and  his  eternal  glory  as  will  fill  your 
heart  with  true  delight. 

"If  I  am  not  deceived,  I  wish  myself 
to  enjoy  his  gracious  favor,  more  than  all 
the  treasures  which  earth  can  afford.  I 
would  in  comparison  look  upon  them 
with  holy  disdain,  and  as  not  worth  an 
anxious  thought,  that  they  may  not  have 
power  on  my  heart  to  draw  or  attract  it 
from  God,  who  is  worthy  of  my  highest 
esteem,  and  of  all  my  affections.  It 
should  be  our  endeavor  to  set  him  always 
before  us,  that  in  all  things  we  may  act 


94  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

as  in  his  immediate  presence;  that  we 
may  be  filled  with  that  holy  fear,  so  that 
we  may  not  dare  wilfully  to  sin  against 
him!  We  should  earnestly  entreat  the 
Lord  to  mortify  the  power  and  working 
of  sin  and  unbelief  within  us,  by  making 
Christ  appear  more  and  more  precious 
in  our  eyes,  and  more  dear  to  our  hearts. 
' '  It  fills  my  heart  with  thankful  recol- 
lections, while  I  attempt  in  this  weak 
manner  to  speak  of  God's  love  to  man. 
When  I  reflect  on  my  past  sins  and  his 
past  mercies,  I  am  assured,  that  if  I  had 
all  the  gifts  of  wise  men  and  angels,  I 
could  never  sufficiently  describe  my  own 
inward  sense  of  his  undeserved  love  tow- 
ards me.  We  can  better  enjoy  these  glo- 
rious apprehensions  in  our  hearts,  than 
explain  them  to  others.  But  Oh,  how  un- 
worthy of  them  all  are  we.  Conscious- 
ness of  my  own  corruptions  keeps  me 
often  low ;  yet  faith  and  desire  will  ea'si- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  95 

ly  mount  on  high,  beseeching  God  that 
he  would,  according  to  the  apostle's  pray- 
er, fill  me  with  all  his  communicable  ful- 
ness, in  the  gifts  and  graces  of  his  Spirit, 
that  I  may  walk  well-pleasing  before  him, 
in  all  holy  conversation,  perfecting  holi- 
ness in  his  fear. 

"If  I  err  in  boldness,  sir,  pray  pardon 
me,  and  in  your  next  letter  confirm  my 
hope  that  you  will  be  my  counsellor  and 
guide. 

"I  can  only  recompense  your  kindness 
to  me  by  my  prayers  that  your  own  in- 
tercourse with  God  may.  be  abundantly 
blessed  to  you  and  yours.  I  consider 
the  Saviour  saying  to  you,  as  he  did  to 
Peter,  'Lovest  thou  me?'  And  may 
your  heartfelt  experience  be  compelled 
to  reply,  Thou  knowest  all  things,  and 
thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee  supremely. 
May  he  have  evident  marks  of  it  in  all 
your  outward  actions  of  love^ind  human- 


96         THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

ity,  in  feeding  his  flock,  and  in  the  in- 
ward fervor  and  affection  of  all  your  con- 
secrated powers ;  that  you  may  be  zeal- 
ously engaged  in  pulling  down  the  strong- 
holds of  sin  and  Satan,  and  building  up 
his  church;  sowing  the  seeds  of  right- 
eousness, and  praying  God  to  give  the 
increase ;  that  you  may  not  labor  for 
him  in  vain ;  but  may  see  the  trees  bud 
and  blossom,  and  bring  forth  fruit  abun- 
dantly, to  the  praise  and  glory  of  your 
heavenly  Master.  In  order  to  give  you 
encouragement,  he  says,  whosoever  'con- 
verteth  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his 
way,  shall  save  a  soul  from  death ;'  and 
that  will  increase  the  brightness  of  your 
crown  in  glory.  This  hath  Christ  mer- 
ited for  his  faithful  ministers. 

"I  hope,  sir,  you  will  receive  grace  to 
be  sincere  in  reproving  sin,  wherever 
you  see  it.  You  will  find  divine  assist- 
ance, and  all  fear  and  shame  taken  from 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  97 

you.  Great  peace  will  be  given  to  you, 
and  wisdom,  strength,  and  courage,  ac- 
cording to  your  work.  You  will  be  as 
Paul;  having  much  learning,  you  can 
speak  to  men  in  all  stations  in  life,  by 
GrocUs  assistance.  The  fear  of  offending 
them  will  never  prevent  you,  when  you 
consider  the  glory  of  God;  and  man's 
immortal  soul  is  of  more  value  than  his 
present  favor  and  esteem.  In  particular, 
you  are  in  an  office  wherein  you  can  visit 
all  the  sick.  Man's  extremity  is  often 
God's  opportunity.  In  this  way  you 
may  prove  an  instrument  in  his  hand  to 
do  his  work.  Although  he  can  work 
without  means,  yet  his  usual  way  is  by 
means ;  and  I  trust  you  are  a  chosen 
vessel  unto  him,  to  prove  his  name  and 
declare  his  truth  to  all  men. 

"Visiting  the  sick  is  a  strict  command, 
and  a  duty  for  every  Christian.  None 
can  tell  what  good  may  be  done.     I  wish 


98  THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

it  was  never  neglected,  as  it  too  often  is. 
Many  think  that  if  they  attend  in  the 
church,  the  minister  to  preach,  and  the 
people  to  hear,  their  duty  is  done.  But 
more  is  required  than  this.  May  the 
Lord  stir  up  the  gift  that  is  in  his  people 
and  ministers,  that  they  may  have  com- 
passion on  their  fellow-sinners,  that  they 
may  never  think  it  too  late,  but  remem- 
ber that  while  there  is  life  there  is 
hope. 

"Once  more,  I  pray,  sir,  pardon  and 
excuse  all  my  errors  in  judgment,  and 
the  ignorance  that  this  is  penned  in ;  and 
may  God  bless  you  in  all  things,  and 
particularly  your  friendship  to  me  and 
my  parents.  What  a  comfort  is  family 
religion.  I  do  not  doubt  but  this  is  your 
desire,  as  it  is  mine,  to  say, 

"'I  and  my  house  will  serve  the  Lord ; 
But  first  obedient  to  his  word 
I  must  myself  appear : 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.         99 

By  actions,  words,  and  tempers  show 
That  I  my  heavenly  Master  know, 
And  serve  with  heart  sincere. 

" '  I  must  the  fair  example  set, 

From  tftose  that  on  my  pleasure  wait 

The  stumbling-block  remove  ; 
Their  duty  by  my  life  explain, 
And  still  in  all  my  works  maintain 

The  dignity  of  love. 

" '  Easy  to  be  entreated,  mild, 

Quickly  appeased  and  reconciled, 

A  follower  of  my  God  : 
A  saint  indeed  I  long  to  be, 
And  lead  my  faithful  family 

In  the  celestial  road. 

" '  Lord,  if  thou  dost  the  wish  infuse, 
A  vessel  fitted  for  thy  use 

Into  thy  hands  receive  : 
Work  in  me  both  to  will  and  do, 
And  show  them  how  believers  true 

And  real  Christians  live. 

" '  With  all-sufficient  grace  supply, 
And  then  I  '11  come  to  testify 
The  wonders  of  thy  name, 
Which  saves  from  sin,  the  world,  and  hell ; 
Its  power  may  every  sinner  feel, 
And  every  tongue  proclaim. 


100        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

•    '■ '  Cleansed  by  the  blood  of  Christ  from  sin, 
I  seek  my  relatives  to  win, 

And  preach  their  sins  forgiven  ; 
Children,  and  wife,  and  servants  seize, 
And  through  the  paths  of  pjeasantness 

Conduct  them  all  to  heaven.' 

"Living  so  much  in  a  solitary  way, 
books  are  my  companions ;  and  poetry 
which  speaks  of  the  love  of  God  and  the 
mercies  of  Christ,  is  very  sweet  to  my 
mind.  This  must  be  my  excuse  for  troub- 
ling you  to  read  verses  which  others 
have  written.  I  have  intended,  if  my 
declining  state  of  health  permit,  to  go  to 

for  a  few  days.      I  say  this,  lest 

you  should  call  in  expectation  of  seeing 
me,  during  any  part  of  next  week.  But 
my  dear  father  and  mother;  for  whose 
precious  souls  I  am  very  anxious,  will 
reap  the  benefit  of  your  visit  at  all  events. 
From 

"Your  humble  and  unworthy  servant, 
"  ELIZABETH  W ." 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        101 

Having  read  it,  I  said  to  the  father  of 
my  highly  valued  correspondent, 

"I  thank  you  for  being  the  bearer  of 
this  letter.  Your  daughter  is  a  kind 
friend  and  faithful  counsellor  to  me,  as 
well  as  to  you.  Tell  her  how  highly  I 
esteem  her  friendship,  and  that  I  feel 
truly  obliged  for  the  many  excellent  sen- 
timents which  she  has  here  expressed. 
Give  her  my  blessing,  and  assure  her^ 
that  the  oftener  she  writes,  the  more 
thankful  I  shall  be." 

The  dairyman's  enlivened  eye  gleamed 
with  pleasure  as  I  spoke.  The  praise  of 
his  Elizabeth  was  a  string  which  could 
not  be  touched  without  causing  every 
nerve  of  his  whole  frame  to  vibrate. 

His  voice  half  faltered,  as  he  spoke  in 
reply;  the  tear  started  in  his  eyes;  his 
'hand  trembled  as  I  pressed  it;  his  heart 
was  full;  he  could  only  say, 

"Sir,  a  poor  old  man  thanks  you  for 


102       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

your  kindness  to  him  and  his  family. 
God  bless  you,  sir ;  I  hope  we  shall  soon 
see  you  again." 

Thus  we  parted  for  that  day. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        103 


PART  V. 

It  has  not  unfrequently  been  observed, 
that  when  it  is  the  Lord's  pleasure  to 
remove  any  of  his  faithful  followers  out 
of  this  life  at  an  early  period  of  their 
course,  they  make  rapid  progress  in  the 
experience  of  divine  truth.  The  fruits 
of  the  Spirit  ripen  fast,  as  they  advance 
to  the  close  of  mortal  existence.  In  par- 
ticular, they  grow  in  humility,  through  a 
deeper  sense  of  inward  corruption,  and  a 
clearer  view  of  the  perfect  character  of 
the  Saviour.  Disease  and  bodily  wreak- 
jess  make  the  thoughts  of  eternity  recur 
with  frequency  and  powder.  The  great 
question  of  their  own  personal  salvation, 
the  quality  of  their  faith,  the  sincerity  of 
their  love,  and  the  purity  of  their  hope, 
are  in  continual  exercise. 


104       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

Unseen  realities,  at  such  a  time,  occupy 
a  larger  portion  of  thought  than  before. 
The  state  of  existence  beyond  the  grave, 
the  invisible  world,  the  unaltered  charac- 
ter of  the  dead,  the  future  judgment,  the 
total  separation  from  every  thing  earth- 
ly, the  dissolution  of  body  and.  spirit, 
and  their  reunion  at  the  solemn  hour  of 
resurrection — these  are  subjects  for  their 
meditation  which  call  for  serious  earnest- 
ness of  soul.  Whatever  consolations  from 
the  Spirit  of  God  they  may  have  enjoyed 
heretofore,  they  become  now  doubly  anx- 
ious to  examine  and  prove  themselves, 
whether  they  be  indeed  in  the  faith.  In 
doing  this,  they  sometimes  pass  through 
hidden  conflicts  of  a  dark  and  distress* 
ing  nature ;  from  which,  however,  they 
come  forth  like  gold  tried  in  the  furnace. 
A  while  they  may  sow  in  tears,  but  soon 
they  reap  in  joy. 

Their  religious  feelings  have  then/per- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        105 

haps,  less  of  ecstasy,  but  more  of  seren- 
ity. 

As  the  ears  of  corn  ripen  for  the  har- 
vest, they  bow  their  heads  nearer  to  the 
ground.  So  it  is  with  believers:  they 
then  'see  more  than  ever  of  their  own 
imperfection,  and  often  express  their 
sense  of  it  in  strong  language ;  yet  they 
repose  with  a  growing  confidence  on  the 
love  of  God  through  Christ  Jesus.  The 
nearer  they  advance  to  their  eternal  rest, 
the  more  humble  they  become,  but  not 
the  less  useful  in  their  sphere.  They 
feel  anxiously*  desirous  of  improving  ev- 
ery talent  they  possess,  to  the  glory  of 
God,  knowing  that  the  time  is  short. 

I  thought  I  observed  the  truth  of  these 
remarks  fulfilled  in  the  progressive  state 
of  mind  of  the  dairyman's  daughter. 

Declining  health  seemed  to  indicate 
the  will  of  God  concerning  her.  But  her 
character,  conduct,  and  experience  of  the 


106       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

divine  favor,  increased  in  brightness  as 
the  setting  sun  of  her  mortal  life  ap- 
proached its  horizon.  The  last  letter 
which,  with  the  exception  of  a  very 
short  note,  I  ever  received  from  her,  I 
shall  now  transcribe.  It  appeared  to 
me  to  bear  the  marks  of  a  still  deeper 
acquaintance  with  the  workings  of  her 
own  heart,  and  a  more  entire  reliance 
upon  the  free  mercy  of  God. 

The  original,  while  I  copy  it,  strongly 
revives  the  image  of  the  deceased,  and 
the  many  profitable  conversations  which 
I  once  enjoyed  in  her  company  and  that 
of  her  parents.  It  again  endears  to  me 
the  recollections  of  cottage  piety,  and 
helps  me  to  anticipate  the  joys  of  that 
day  when  the  spirits  of  the  glorified 
saints  shall  be  reunited  to  their  bodies, 
and  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord. 

The  writer  of  this  and  the  preceding 
letters  herself  little  imagined,  when  they 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        107 

were  penned,  that  they  would  ever  be 
submitted  to  the  public  eye:  that  they 
now  are  so,  results  from  a  conviction 
that  the  friends  of  the  pious  poor  will 
estimate  them  according  to  their  value ; 
and  a  hope  that  it  may  please  God  to 
honor  these  memorials  of  the  dead,  to 
the  effectual  edification  of  the  living. 

"Rev.  Sir — In  consequence  of  your 
kind  permission,  I  take  the  liberty  to 
trouble  you  with  another  of  my  ill-writ- 
ten letters ;  and  I  trust  you  have  too 
much  of  your  blessed  Master's  lowly, 
meek,  and  humble  mind,  to  be  offended 
with  a  poor,  simple,  ignorant  creature, 
whose  intentions  are  pure  and  sincere  in 
writing.  My  desire  is,  that  I,  a  weak 
vessel  of  his  grace,  may  glorify  his  name 
for  his  goodness  towards  me.  May  the 
Lord  direct  me  by  his  counsel  and  wis- 
dom.    May  he  overshadow  me  with  his 


108        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

presence;  that  I  may  sit  beneath  the 
banner  of  his  love,  and  find  the  consola- 
tions of  his  blessed  Spirit  sweet  and  re- 
freshing to  my  soul. 

"When  I  feel  that  I  am  nothing,  and 
God  is  all  in  all,  then  I  can  willingly  fly 
to  him,  saying,  'Lord,  help  me;  Lord, 
teach  me  ;  be  unto  me  my  prophet,  priest, 
and  king.  Let  me  know  the  teaching  of 
thy  grace,  and  the  disclosing  of  thy  love.' 
What  nearness  of  access  might  we  have, 
if  we  lived  more  near  to  God.  .  What 
sweet  communion  might  we  have  with  a 
God  of  love.  He  is  the  great  I  AM. 
How  glorious  a  name.  Angels  with  trem- 
bling awe  prostrate  themselves  before 
him,  and  in  humble  love  adore  and  wor- 
ship him.     One  says, 

"'While  the  first  archangel  sings, 
He  hides  his  face  behind  his  wings.' 

Unworthy  as  I  am,  I  have  found  it  by 
experience,  that  the  more  I  see  of  the 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.       109 

greatness  and  goodness  of  God,  and  the 
nearer  union  I  hope  I  have  had  with 
him  through  the  Spirit  of  his  love,  the 
more  humble  and  self-abased  I  have 
been. 

"But  every  clay  I  may  say,  'Lord, 
how  little  I  love  thee,  how  far  I  live 
from  thee,  how  little  am  I  like  thee  in 
humility.7  It  is  nevertheless  my  heart's 
desire  to  love  and  serve  him  better.  I 
find  the  way  in  which  God  does  more 
particularly  bless  me,  is  when  I  attend 
on  the  public  ordinances  of  religion. 
These  are  the  channels  through  which  he 
conveys  the  riches  of  his  grace  and  pre- 
cious love  to  my  soul.  .  These  I  have 
often  found  to  be  indeed  the  time  of  re- 
freshing and  strengthening  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord.  Then  I  can  see  my 
hope  of  an  interest  in  the  covenant  of 
his  love,  and  praise  him  for  his  mercy  to 
the  greatest  of  sinners. 


1.10       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"I  earnestly  wish  to  be  more  estab- 
lished in  his  ways,  and  to  honor  him  in 
the  path  of  duty,  while  I  enjoy  the  smiles 
of  his  favor.  In  the  midst  of  all  outward 
afflictions  I  pray  that  I  may  know  Christ, 
and  the  power  of  his  resurrection  within 
my  soul.  If  I  were  always  thus,  my 
summer  would  last  all  the  year ;  my  will 
would  then  be  sweetly  lost  in  God's  will, 
and  I  should  feel  a  resignation  in  every 
dispensation  of  his  providence  and  his 
grace,  saying,  'Good  is  the  will  of  the 
Lord ;  infinite  wisdom  cannot  err.'  Then 
would  patience  have  its  perfect  work. 

"But,  alas,  sin  and  unbelief  often,  too 
often,  interrupt  these  frames,  and  lay  me 
low  before  God  in  tears  of  sorrow.  I 
often  think  what  a  happiness  it  would  be, 
if  his  love  were  so  fixed  in  my  heart, 
that  I  might  willingly  obey  him  with  alac- 
rity and  delight,  and  gradually  mortify 
the  power  of  self-will,  passion,  and  pride. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        Ill 

This  can  only  arise  from  a  good  hope 
through  grace,  that  we  are  washed  in 
that  precious  blood  which  cleanses  us 
from  every  sinful  stain,  and  makes  us 
new  creatures  in  Christ.  Oh  that  we 
may  be  the  happy  witnesses  of  the  sav- 
ing power  and  virtue  of  that  healiug 
stream  which  flows  from  the  fountain  of 
everlasting  love. 

"Sir,  my  faith  is  often  exceedingly 
weak ;  can  you  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  me, 
what  you  have  found  to  be  the  most 
effectual  means  of  strengthening  it?  I 
often  think  how  plainly  the  Lord  declares, 
Believe  only,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved. 
Only  have  faith  ;  all  things  are  possible 
to  him  that  has  it.  How  I  wish  that  we 
could  remove  all  those  mountains  that 
hinder  and  obstruct  the  light  of  his 
grace ;  so  that  having  full  access  unto 
God  through  that  ever-blessed  Spirit, 
we  might  lovingly  commune  with  him  as 


112       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

with  the  dearest  of  friends.  What  favor 
does  God  bestow  on  worms.  And  yet 
we  love  to  murmur  and  complain.  He 
may  well  say,  What  should  I  have  done 
more,  that  I  have  not  done?  or  wherein 
have  I  proved  unfaithful  or  unkind  to 
my  faithless,  backsliding  children? 

"Sir,  I  pray  that  I  may  not  grieve 
him,  as  I  have  done,  any  more.  I  want 
your  counsel  and  your  prayers  for  me  in 
this  matter.  How  refreshing  is  the  sight 
of  one  that  truly  loves  God,  that  bears 
his  image  and  likeness. 

■ '  But  delightful  as  is  conversation  with 
true  believers  on  earth,  whose  hearts  are 
lifted  up  to  things  above,  yet  what  is  this 
to  that  happy  day  which  will- admit  us 
into  more  bright  realms ;  where  we  shall 
for  ever  behold  a  God  of  love  in  the 
smiling  face  of  his  Son,  who  is  the  ex- 
press image  of  his  Father,  and  the  bright- 
ness of  his  glory.     Then,  if  found  in  him, 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        113 

we  shall  be  received  by  the  innumera- 
ble host  of  angels  who  wait  around  his 
throne. 

"In  the  mean  time,*sir,  may  I  take  up 
my  cross,  and  manfully  fight  under  Him 
who,  for  the  glory  that  was  set  before 
him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the 
shame,  and  is  now  set  down  at  his  Fa- 
ther's right  hand  in  majesty.  I  thank 
you  for  the  kind  liberty  you  have  given 
me  of  writing  to  you.  I  feel  my  health 
declining,  and  I  find  a  relief,  during  an 
hour  of  pain  and  weakness,  in  communi- 
cating these  thoughts  to  you. 

"I  hope,  sir,  you  go  on  your  way  re- 
joicing; that  you  are  enabled  to  thank 
Him  who  is  the  giver  of  every  good  gift, 
spiritual,  temporal,  and  providential,  for 
blessings  to  }^ourself  and  your  ministry. 
I  do  not  doubt  but  that  you  often  meet 
with  circumstances  which  are  not  pleas- 
ing to  nature,  vet,  bv  the  blessing  of 

8 


114       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

God,  they  will  be  all  profitable  in  the 
end.  They  are  kindly  designed  by  grace 
•to  make  and  keep  us  humble.  The  diffi- 
culties which  you  spoke  of  to  me  some 
time  since  will,  I  trust,  disappear. 

' '  My  clear  father  and  mother  are  as 
well  as  usual  in  bodily  health,  and  I  hope 
grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  and 
love  of  Jesus  Christ.  My  chief  desire  to 
live  is  for  their  sakes.  It  now  seems 
long  since  we  have  seen  you.  I  am 
almost  ashamed  to  request  you  to  come 
to  our  little  cottage  to  visit  those  who 
are  so  much  below  your  station  in  life. 
But  if  you  cannot  come,  we  shall  be 
very  glad  if  you  will  write  a  few  lines. 
I  ought  to  make  an  excuse  for  my  letter, 
I  spell  so  badly ;  this  was  a  great  neglect 
when  I  was  youngo  I  gave  myself  great- 
ly to  reading,  but  not  to  the  other,  and 
now  I  am  too  weak  and  feeble  to  learn 
much. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        115 

"I  hear  sometimes  of  persons  growing 
serious  in  your  congregation.  It  gives 
me  joy,  and  if  true,  I  am  sure  it  does  so 
to  yourself.  I  long  for  the  pure  gospel 
of  Christ  to  be  preached  in  every  church 
in  the  world,  and  for  the  time  when  all 
shall  know,  love,  and  fear  the  Lord ;  and 
the  uniting  Spirit  of  God  shall  make  them 
of  one  heart  and  mind  in  Christ  our  great 
Head.  Your  greatest  joy,  I  know,  will 
be  in  laboring  much  for  the  glory  of  God 
in  the  salvation  of  men7s  souls.  You 
serve  a  good  Master.  You  have  a  sure 
reward  I  pray  God  to  give  you  strength 
according  to  your  clay. 

"Pray,  sir,  do  not  be  offended  at  the 
freedom  and  manner  of  my  writing.  My 
parents7  duty  and  love  to  you  are  sent 
with  these  lines  from 

"Your  humble  servant  in  Christ, 

"ELIZABETH  W . 


116       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

Epistolary  communications,  when  writ- 
ten in  sincerity  of  heart,  afford  genuine 
portraits  of  the  mind.  May  the  fore- 
going be  viewed  with  Christian  candor, 
and  consecrated  to  affectionate  memory." 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        lit 


PART  VI. 

Travellers,  as  they  pass  through  the 
country,  usually  stop  to  inquire  whose 
are  the  splendid  mansions  which  they 
discover  among  the  woods  and  plains 
around  them.  The  families,  titles,  for- 
tune, or  character  of  the  respective  own- 
ers engage  much  attention.  Perhaps 
their  houses  are  exhibited  to  the  admir- 
ing stranger.  The  elegant  rooms,  costly 
furniture,  valuable  paintings,  beautiful 
gardens  and  shrubberies,  are  universally 
approved ;  while  the  rank,  fashion,  taste, 
and  riches  of  the  possessor  afford  ample 
materials  for  entertaining  discussion.  In 
the  meantime,  the  lowly  cottage  of  the 
poor  husbandman  is  passed  by  as  scarce- 
ly deserving  of  notice.  Yet  perchance 
such  a  cottage  may  often  contain  a  treas- 


118       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

ure  of  infinitely  more  value  than  the 
sumptuous  palace  of  the  rich  man ;  even 
"the  pearl  of  great  price. "  If  this  be 
set  in  the  heart  of  the  poor  cottager,  it 
proves  a  gem  of  unspeakable  worth,  and 
will  shine  among  the  brightest  ornaments 
of  the  Redeemer's  crown,  in  that  clay 
when  he  maketh  up  his  "jewels." 

Hence,  the  Christian  traveller,  while 
in  common  with  others  he  bestows  his 
due  share  of  applause  on  the  decorations 
of  the  rich,  and  is  not  insensible  to  the 
beauties  and  magnificence  which  are  the 
lawfully  allowed  appendages  of  rank  and 
fortune,  cannot  overlook  the  humbler 
dwelling  of  the  poor.  And  if  he  should 
find  that  true  piety  and  grace  beneath 
the  thatched  roof  which  he  has  in  vain 
looked  for  amidst  the  worldly  grandeur 
of  the  rich,  he  remembers  the  declara- 
tions in  the  word  of  God.  He  sees  with 
admiration,  that  the  high  and  lofty  One 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        119 

that  Inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is 
Holy,  who  dwelleth  in  the  high  and  holy 
place,  clwelleth  with  him  also  that  is  of  a 
contrite  and  humble  spirit,  Isa.  57:15; 
and  although  heaven  is  his  throne,  and 
the  earth  his  footstool,  yet,  when  a  house 
is  to  be  built,  and  a  place  of  rest  to  be 
sought  for  himself,  he  says,  "To  this  man 
will  I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor  and 
of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at  my 
word."     Isa,  66:2. 

When  a  house  is  thus  tenanted,  faith 
beholds  this  inscription  written  on  the 
walls,  The  Lord  lives  here.  Faith  there- 
fore cannot  pass  it  by  .unnoticed,  but 
loves  to  lift  up  the  latch  of  the  door,  and 
to  sit  down  and  converse  with  the  poor, 
although  perhaps  despised,  inhabitant. 
Many  a  sweet  interview  does  Faith  obtain, 
when  she  thus  takes  her  walks  abroad. 
Many  such  a  sweet  interview  have  I 
myself  enjoyed  beneath  the  roof  where 


120       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

dwelt  the  dairyman  and  his  little  Tarn- 

ay. 

I  soon  perceived  that  his  daughter's 
health  was  rapidly  on  the  decline.  The 
pale,  wasting  consumption,  which  is  the 
Lord's  instrument  for  removing  so  many 
thousands  every  year  from  the  land  of 
the  living,  made  hasty  strides  on  her 
constitution.  The  hollow  eye,  the  dis- 
tressing cough,  and  the  often  too-flatter- 
ing flush  on  the  cheek,  foretold  the  ap- 
proach of  death. 

What  a  field  for  usefulness  and  affec- 
tionate attention,  on  the  part  of  ministers 
and  Christian  friends,  is  opened  by  the 
frequent  attacks  and  lingering  process  of 
consumptive  illness.  How  many  such 
precious  opportunities  are  daily  lost, 
where  Providence  seems  in  so  marked  a 
way  to  afford  time  and  space  for  serious 
and  godly  instruction.  Of  how  many 
may  it  be  said,  ""The  way  of  peace  have 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        121 

they  not  known  f  for  not  one  friend 
ever  came  nigh,  to  warn  them  to  "flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come." 

But  the  dairyman's  daughter  was  hap- 
pily made  acquainted  with  the  things 
which  belonged  to  her  everlasting  peace, 
before  the  present  disease  had  taken 
root  in  her  constitution.  In  my  visits  to 
her,  I  went  rather  to  receive  information 
than  to  impart  it,  Her  mind  was  abso- 
lutely stored  with  divine  truths,  and  her 
conversation  .was  truly  edifying.  The 
recollection  of  it  will  ever  produce  a 
thankful  sensation  in  my  heart. 

I  one  day  received  a  short  note  to  the 
following  effect : 

''Dear  Sir — I  should  be  very  glad,  if 
your  convenience  will  allow,  that  you 
would  come  and  see  a  poor  unworthy 
sinner ;  my  hour-glass  is  nearly  run  out, 
but  I  hope  I  can  see  Christ  to  be  precious 


122        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

to  my  soul.     Your  conversation  has  often 

been  blessed  to  me,  and  I  now  feel  the 

need  of  it  more  than  ever.     My  father 

and  mother  send  their  duty  to  you. 

"From  your  obedient  and  unworthy 

servant, 

"  ELIZABETH  W .? 

I  obeyed  the  summons  that  same  after- 
noon. On  my  arrival  at  the  dairyman's 
cottage,  his  wife  opened  the  door.  The 
tears  streamed  down  her  cheek,  as  she 
silently  shook  her  head.  Her  heart  was 
full.  She  tried  to  speak,  but  could  not. 
I  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  said, 

"My  good  friend,  all  is  right,  and  as 
the  Lord  of  wisdom  and  mercy  directs." 

"Oh,  my  Betsey,  my  dear  girl,  is  so 
bad,  sir.  What  shall  I  do  without  her? 
I  thought  I  should  have  gone  first  to  the 
grave  ;  but  — " 

"But  the  Lord  sees  good  that  before 
you  die  yourself,  you  should  behold  your 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        123 

child  safe  home  to  glory.     Is  there  no 
mercy  in  this?". 

'  •  Oh  dear,  sir,  I  am  very  old  and  very 
weak;  and  she  is  a  dear  child,  the  stall 
and  prop  of  a  poor  old  creature,  as  I 
am." 

As  I  advanced,  I  saw  Elizabeth  sitting 
by  the  fireside,  supported  in  an  arm-chair 
by  pillows,  with  every  mark  of  rapid 
decline  and  approaching  death.  A  sweet 
smile  of  friendly  complacency  enlight- 
ened her  pale  countenance,  as  she  said, 

"This  is  very  kind  indeed,  sir,  to  come 
so  soon  after  I  sent  to  you.  You  find 
me  daily  wasting  away,  and  I  cannot 
have  long  to  continue  here.  My  flesh 
and  my  heart  fail ;  but  God  is  the  strength 
of  my  weak  heart,  and  I  trust  will  be 
my  portion  for  ever." 

The  conversation  was  occasionally  in- 
terrupted by  her  cough  and  want  of 
breath.     Her  tone  of  voice  was  clear, 


124        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

though  feeble ;  her  manner  solemn  and 
collected ;  and  her  eye,  tiiough  more  dim 
than  formerly,  by  no  means  wanting  in 
liveliness  as  she  spoke.  I  had  frequent- 
ly admired  the  superior  language  in  which 
she  expressed  her  ideas,  as  well  as  the 
scriptural  consistency  with  which  she 
communicated  her  thoughts.  She  had  a 
good  natural  understanding ;  and  grace, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  had  much  im- 
proved it.  On  the  present  occasion  I 
could  not  help  thinking  she  was  peculiar- 
ly favored.  The  whole  strength  of  gra- 
cious and  natural  attainments  seemed  to 
be  in  full  exercise. 

After  taking  my  seat  between  the 
daughter  and  the  mother — the  latter  fix- 
ing her  fond  eyes  upon  her  child  with 
great  anxiety  while  we  were  convers- 
ing— I  said  to  Elizabeth, 

"I  hope  you  enjoy  a  sense  of  the  di- 
vine presence,  and  can  rest  all  upon  Him 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAJJGHTER.       125 

who  has  'been  with  thee,'  and  has  kept 
'thee  in  all  places  where  thon  hast  gone/ 
and  will  bring  thee  into  '  the  land  of  pure 
delight,  where  saints  immortal  reign.' " 

"Sir,  I  think  I  can.  My  mind  has 
lately  been  sometimes  clouded,  but  I  be- 
lieve it  has  been  partly  owing  to  the 
great  weakness  and  suffering  of  my  bod- 
ily frame,  and  partly  to  the  envy  of  my 
spiritual  enemy,  who  wants  to  persuade 
me  that  Christ  has  no  love  for  me,  and 
that  I  have  been  a  self-deceiver." 

"And  do  you  give  way  to  his  sugges- 
tions? Can  you  doubt,  amidst  such  nu- 
merous tokens  of  past  and  present  mer- 
cy?" 

"No,  sir,  I  mostly  am  enabled  to  pre- 
serve a  clear  evidence  of  his  love.  I  do 
not  wish  to  add  to  my  other  sins  that  of 
denying  his  manifest  goodness  to  my  soul. 
I  would  acknowledge  it  to  his  praise  and 
glory." 


126       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"What  is  your  present  view  of  the 
state  in  which  you  were,  before  you  felt 
seriously  concerned  about  the  salvation 
of  your  soul?" 

"Sir,  I  was  a  proud,  thoughtless  girl, 
fond  of  dress  and  finery;  I  loved  the 
world,  and  the  things  that  are  in  the 
world.  I  lived  in  service  among  world- 
ly people,  and  never  had  the  happiness 
of  being  in  a  family  where  worship  was 
regarded,  and  the  souls  of  the  servants 
cared  for,  either  by  master  or  mistress. 
I  went  once  on  a  Sunday  to  church,  more 
to  see  and  be  seen,  than  to  pray  or  hear 
the  word  of  God.  I  thought  I  was 
quite  good  enough  to  be  saved ;  and  dis- 
liked, and  often  laughed  at  religious 
people.  I  was  in  great  darkness;  I 
knew  nothing  of  the  way  of  salvation  ;  I 
never  prayed,  nor  was  sensible  of  the 
awful  danger  of  a  prayerless  state.  I 
wished  to  maintain  the  character  of  a 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        127 

good  servant,  and  was  much  lifted  up 
whenever  I  met  with  applause.  I  was 
tolerably  moral  and  decent  in  my  con-~ 
duct,  from  motives  of  carnal  and  world- 
ly policy ;  but  I  was  a  stranger  to  God 
and  Christ.  I  neglected  my  soul ;  and 
had  I  died  in  such  a  state,  hell  must, 
and  would  justly,  have  been  my  por- 
tipn.77 

"How  long  is  it  since  you  heard  the 
sermon  which  you  hope,  through  God's 
blessing,  effected  your  conversion?'7 
"About  five  years  ago.77 
"How  was  it  brought  about?77 

"It  was   reported   that  a  Mr.  , 

who  was  detained  by  contrary  winds 
from  embarking  on  board  ship  as  chap- 
lain to  a  distant  part  of  the  world,  was 

to  preach  at church.    Many  advised 

me  not  to  go,  for  fear  he  should  turn  my 
head ;  as  they  said  he  held  strange  no- 
tions.    But  curiosity,  and  an  opportunity 


128       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

of  appearing  in  a  new  gown,  which  I.  was 
very  proud  of,  induced  me  to  ask  leave 
of  my  mistress  to  go.  Indeed,  sir,  I  had 
no  better  motives  than  vanity  and  curi- 
osity. Yet  thus  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
order  it  for  his  own  glory. 

"I  accordingly  went  to  church,  and 
saw  a  great  crowd  of  people  collected 
together.  I  often  think. of  the  contrary 
states  of  my  mind  during  the  former  and 
"latter  part  of  the  service.  For  a  while, 
regardless  of  the  worship  of  God,  I  looked 
around  me,  and  was  anxious  to  attract 
notice  myself.  My  dress,  like  that  of 
too  many  gay,  vain,  and  silly  servant- 
girls,  w^as  much  above  my  station,  and 
very  different  from  that  which  becomes 
an  humble  sinner,  who  has  a  modest 
sense  of  propriety  and  decency.  The 
state  of  my  mind  was  visible  enough 
from  the  foolish  finery  of  my  apparel. 

"At  length  the  clergyman  gave  out 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        129 

his  text:  'Be  ye  clothed  with  humility.' 
He  drew  a  comparison  between  the  cloth- 
ing of  the  body  and  that  of  the' soul.  At 
a  very  early  part  of  his  discourse,  I  be- 
gan to  feel  ashamed  of  my  passion  for 
fine  dressing  and  apparel ;  but  when  he 
came  to  describe  the  garment  of  salva- 
tion with  which  a  Christian  is  clothed,  I 
felt  a  powerful  discovery  of  the  naked- 
ness of  my  own  soul.  I  saw  that  I  had 
neither  the  humility  mentioned  in  the 
text,  nor  any  one  part  of  the  true  Chris- 
tian character.  I  looked  at  my  gay 
dress,  and  blushed  for  shame  on  account 
of  my  pride.  I  looked  at  the  minister,  and 
he  seemed  to  be  as  a  messenger  sent  from 
heaven  to  open  my  eyes.  I  looked  at 
the  congregation,  and  wondered  whether 
any  one  else  felt  as  I  did.  I  looked  at  my 
heart,  and  it  appeared  full  of  iniquity.  I 
trembled  as  he  spoke,  and  yet  I  felt  a  great 
drawing  of  heart  to  the  words  he  uttered. 


130       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"  He  opened  the  riches  of  divine  grace 
in  God's  method  of  saving  the  sinner.  I 
was  astonished  at  what  I  had  been  doing 
all  the  days  of  my  life.  He  described 
the  meek,  lowly,  and  humble  example  of 
Christ ;  I  felt  proud,  lofty,  vain,  and  self- 
consequential.  He  represented  Christ 
as  'Wisdom;'  I  felt  my  ignorance.  He 
held  him  forth  as  '  Eighteousness ;'  I  was 
convinced  of  my  own  guilt.  He  proved 
him  to  be  '  Sanctification ;'  I  saw  my  cor- 
ruption. He  proclaimed  him  as  'Re- 
demption ;'  I  felt  my  slavery  to  sin,  and 
my  captivity  to  Satan.  He  concluded 
with  an  animated  address  to  sinners,  in 
which  he  exhorted  them  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  to  cast  off  the  love  of 
outward  ornaments,  to  put  on  Jesus 
Christ,  and  be  clothed  with  true  humility. 

■ '  From  that  hour  I  never  lost  sight  of 
the  value  of  my  soul,  and  the  danger  of 
a  sinful  state.     I  inwardly  blessed  God 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S. DAUGHTER.        131 

for  the  sermon,  although  my  mind  was 
in  a  state  of  great  confusion. 

"The  preacher  had  brought  forward 
the  ruling  passion  of  my  heart,  which 
was  pride  in  outward  dress ;  and  by  the 
grace  of  God  it  was  made  instrumental 
to  the  awakening  of  my  soul.  Happy, 
sir,  would  it  be,  if  many  a  poor  girl,  like 
myself,  were  turned  from  the  love  of 
outward  adorning  and  putting  on  of  fine 
apparel,  to  seek  that  which  is  not  cor- 
ruptible, even  the  ornament  of  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of 
God  of  great  price. 

"The  greatest  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion, unused  to  such  faithful  and  scrip- 
tural sermons,  disliked  and  complained 
of  the  severity  of  the  preacher ;  while  a 
few,  as  I  afterwards  found,  like  myself, 
were  deeply  affected,  and  earnestly  wish- 
ed to  hear  him  again.  But  he  preached* 
there  no  more. 


132       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"From  that  time  I  was  led,  through  a 
course  of  private  prayer,  reading,  and 
meditation,  to  see  my  lost  state  as  a  sin- 
ner, and  the  great  mercy  of  God  through 
Jesus  Christ,  in  raising  sinful  dust  and 
ashes  to  a  share  in  the  glorious  happiness 
of  heaven.  And  Oh,  sir,  what  a  Saviour 
I  have  found.  He  is  more  than  I  could 
ask  or  desire.  In  his  fulness  I  have 
found  all  that  my  poverty  could  need; 
in  his  bosom  I  have  found  a  resting- 
place  from  all  sin  and  sorrow;  in  his 
word  I  have  found  strength  against  doubt 
and  unbelief."    ' 

"Were  you  not  soon  convinced,"  I 
said,  "that  your  salvation  must  be  an 
act  of  entire  grace  on  the  part  of  God, 
wholly  independent  of  your  own  previous 
works  or  deservings?" 
1  "Dear  sir,  what  were  my  works,  be- 
fore I  heard  that  sermon,  but  evil,  carnal, 
selfish,  and  ungodly?     The  thoughts  of 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        133 

my  heart,  from  my  youth  upward,  were 
only  evil,  and  that  continually.  And 
my  deservings,  what  were  they,  but  the 
deservings  of  a  fallen,  deprayed,  careless 
soul,  that  regarded  neither  law  nor  gos- 
pel? Yes,  sir,  I  immediately  saw  that 
if  ever  I  were  saved,  it  must  be  by  the 
free  mercy  of  God,  and  that  the  whole 
praise  and  honor  of  the  work  would  be 
his  from  first  to  last." 

"What  change  did  you  perceive  in 
yourself  with  respect  to  the  world?" 

"It  appeared  all  vanity  and  vexation 
of  spirit.  I  found  it  necessary  to  my 
peace  of  mind  to  come  out  from  among 
them  and  be  separate.  I  gave  myself 
to  prayer;  and  many  a  happy  hour  of 
secret  delight  I  enjoyed  in  communion 
with  God.  Often  I  mourned  over  my 
sins,  and  sometimes  had  a  great  conflict 
through  unbelief,  fear,  temptation  to  re- 
turn back  again  to  my  old  ways,  and  a 


134       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

variety  of  difficulties  which  lay  in  my 
way.  But  He  who  loved  me  with  an 
everlasting  love,  drew  me  by  his  loving- 
kindness,  showed  me  the  way  of  peace, 
gradually  strengthened  me  in  my  resolu- 
tions of  leading  a  new  life,  and  taught 
me,  that  while  without  him  I  could  do 
nothing,  I  yet  might  do  all  things  through 
his  strength." 

' '  Did  you  not  find  many  difficulties  in 
your  situation,  owing  to  your  change  of 
principle  and  practice?'7 

"Yes,  sir,  every  day  of  my  life.  I 
was  laughed  at  by  some,  scolded  at  by 
others,  scorned  by  enemies,  and  pitied 
by  friends.  I  was  called  hypocrite,  saint, 
false  deceiver,  and  many  more  names 
which  were  meant  to  render  me  hateful 
in  the  sight  of  the  world.  But  I  esteem- 
ed the  reproach  of  the  cross  an  honor.  I 
forgave  and  prayed  for  my  persecutors, 
and  remembered  how  very  lately  I  had 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        135 

acted  the  same  part  towards  others  my- 
self. I  thought  also  that  Christ  endured 
the  contradiction  of  sinners ;  and  as  the 
disciple  is  not  above  his  Master,  I  was 
glad  to  be  in  any  wayr  conformed  to  his 
sufferings.'7 

"Did  you  not  then  feel  for  your  fam- 
ily at  home?" 

"Yes,  that  I  did  indeed,  sir;  they 
were  never  out  of  my  thoughts.  I  pray- 
ed continually  for  them,  and  had  a  long- 
ing desire,  to  do  them  good.  In  particu- 
lar I  felt  for  my  father  and  mother,  as 
they  were  getting  into  years,  and  were 
very  ignorant  and  dark  in  matters  of  re- 
ligion.7' 

"Aye,"  interrupted  her  mother,  sob- 
bing, "ignorant  and  dark,  sinful  and  mis- 
erable we  were,  till  this  dear  Betsey — ■ 
this  dear  Betsey — this  dear  child,  sir, 
brought  Christ  Jesus  home  to  her  poor 
father  and  mother's  house." 


136       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

' '  No,  dearest  mother;  say  rather,  Christ 
Jesus  brought  your  poor  daughter  home 
to  tell  you  what  he  had  doue  for  her 
soul,  and  I  hope,  to  do  the  same  for 
yours." 

At  this  moment  the  dairyman  came  in 
with  two  pails  of  milk  hanging  from  the 
yoke  on  his  shoulders.  He  had  stood- 
behind  the  half-opened  door  for  a  few 
minutes,  and  heard  the  last  sentences 
spoken  by  his  wife  and  daughter. 

"Blessing  and  mercy  upon  her,*'  said 
he,  "it  is  very  true;  she  left  a  good 
place  of  service  on  purpose  to  live  with 
us,  that  she  might  help  us  both  in  soul 
and  body.  .Sir,  don't  she  look  very  ill? 
I  think,  sir,  we  sha'n't  have  her  here 
long.'7 

"Leave  that  to  the  Lord,"  said  Eliza- 
beth. "All  our  times  are  in  his  hand, 
and  happy  it  is  that  they  are.  I  am- 
willing  to  go;  are  not  you  willing,  my 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.       137 

father,  to  part  with  me  into  his  hands, 
who  gave  me  to  you  at  first?" 

"Ask  me  any  question  in  the  world 
but  that,"  said  the  weeping  father. 

"I  know,"  said  she,  "you  wish  me  to 
be  happy." 

"I  do,  I  do,"  answered  he;  "let  the 
Lord  do  with  you  and  us  as  best  pleases 
him." 

I  then  asked  her  on  what  her  present 
consolations  chiefly  depended,  in  the 
prospect  of  approaching  death. 

"Entirely,  sir,  on  nry  view  of  Christ. 
When  I  look  at  myself,  many  sins,  in- 
firmities, and  imperfections  cloud  the 
image  of  Christ  which  I  want  to  see  in 
my  own  heart.  But  when  I  look  at  the 
Saviour  himself,  he  is  altogether  love- 
ly ;  there  is  not  one  spot  in  his  counte- 
nance, nor  one  cloud  over  all  his  perfec- 
tions. 

"I  think  of  his  coming  in  the  flesh, 


/138       THE  DAIRYMAN' ^DAUGHTER. 

and  it  reconciles  me  to  the  sufferings  of 
the  body ;  for  he  had  them  as  well  as  I. 
I  think  of  his  temptations,  and  believe 
that  he  is  able  to  succor  me  when  I  am 
tempted.  Then  I  think  of  his  cross,  and 
learn  to  bear  my  own;  I  reflect  on  his 
death,  and  long  to  die  unto  sin,  so  that 
it  may  no  longer  have  dominion  over  me. 
I  sometimes  think  on  his  resurrection, 
and  trust  that  he  has  given  me  a  part  in 
it,  for  I  feel  that  my  affections  are  set 
upon  things  above.  Chiefly  I  take  com- 
fort in  thinking  of  him  as  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father,  pleading  my  cause, 
and  rendering  acceptable  even  my  feeble 
prayers,  both  for  myself  and,  as  I  hope, 
for  my  dear  friends. 

"These  are  the  views  which,  through 
mercy,  I  have  of  my  Saviour's  goodness ; 
and  they  have  made  me  wish  and  strive 
in  my  poor  way  to  serve  him,  to  give 
myself  up  to  him,  and  to  labor  to  do  my 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        13$ 

duty  in  that  state  of  life  into  which  it 
has  pleased  God  to  call  me. 

1 '  A  thousand  times  I  should  have  fallen 
and  fainted,  if  he  had  not  upheld  me. 
I  feel  that  I  am  nothing  without  him. 
He  is  all  in  all. 

"Just  so  far  as  I  can  cast  my  care 
upon  him,  I  find  strength  to  do  his  will. 
May  he  give  me  grace  to  trust  him  till 
the  last  moment.  I  do  not  fear  death, 
because  I  believe  that  he  has  taken  away 
its  sting.  And  Oh,  what  happiness  be- 
yond. Tell  me,  sir,  whether  you  think  I 
am  right.  I  hope  I  am  under  no  delu- 
sion. I  dare  not  look  for  my  hope  in 
any  thing  short  of  the  entire  fulness  of 
Christ.  When  I  ask  my  own  heart  a 
question,  I  am  afraid  to  trust  it,  for  it  is 
treacherous  and  has  often  deceived  me. 
But  when  I  ask  Christ,  he  answers  me 
with  promises  that  strengthen  and  refresh 
me,  and  leave  me  no  room  to  doubt  his 


1*40       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

power  and  will  to  save.  I  ani  in  his 
hands,  and  would  remain  there ;  and  I 
do  believe  that  he  will  never  leave  nor 
forsake  me,  but  will  perfect  the  thing 
that  concerns  me.  '  He  loved  me  and 
gave  himself  for  me,  and  I  belie*ve  that 
his  gifts  and  callings  are  without  repent- 
ance. In  this  hope  I  live,  in  this  hope  I 
wish  to  die." 

I  looked  around  me  as  she  was  speak- 
ing, '  and  thought,  Surely  this  is  none 
other  than  the  house  of  God,  and  the 
gate  of  heaven.  Every  thing  appear- 
ed neat,  cleanly,  and  interesting.  The 
afternoon  had  been  rather  overcast  with 
dark  clouds ;  but  just  now  the  setting 
sun  shone  brightly  and  somewhat  sud- 
denly into  the  room.  It  was  reflected 
from  three  or  four  rows  of  bright  pew- 
ter plates  and  white  earthenware,  ar- 
ranged on  shelves  against  the  wall;  it 
also  gave  brilliancy  to  a  few  prints  of 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        141 

sacred  subjects  that  hung  there  also, 
and  served  for  monitors  of  the  birth, 
baptism,  crucifixion,  and  resurrection  of 
Christ. 

A  large  map  of  Jerusalem,  and  a  hie- 
roglyphic of  "the  old  and  new  man," 
completed  the  decorations  on  that  side 
of  the  room.  Clean  as  was  the  white- 
washed wall,  it  was  not  cleaner  than  the 
rest  of  the  place  and  its  furniture.  Sel- 
dom had  tjie  sun  enlightened  a  house 
where  order  and  general  neatness,  those 
sure  attendants  of  pious  poverty,  were 
more  conspicuous. 

This  gleam  of  setting  sunshine  was 
emblematical  of  the  bright  and  serene 
close  of  this  young  Christian's  depart- 
ing season.  One  ray  happened  to  be 
reflected  from  a  little  looking-glass  upon 
her  face.  Amidst  her  pallid  and  de- 
caying features  there  appeared  a  calm 
resignation,  triumphant  confidence,  un- 


142        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

affected  humility,  and  tender  anxiety, 
which  fully  declared  the  feelings  of  her 
heart. 

Some  further  affectionate  conversation, 
and  a  short  prayer,  closed  this  inter- 
view. 

As  I  rode  home  by  departing  daylight, 
a  solemn  tranquillity  reigned  throughout 
the  scene.  The  gentle  lowing  of  cattle, 
the  bleating  of  sheep  just  penned  in  their 
folds,  .the  humming  of  the  injects  of  the 
night,  the  distant  murmurs  of  the  sea, 
the  last  notes  of  the  birds  of  day,  and 
the  first  warblings  of  the  nightingale, 
broke  upon  the  ear,  and  served  rather 
to  increase  than  lessen  the  peaceful  se- 
renity of  the  evening  and  its  correspond- 
ing effects  on.  my  own  mind.  It  invited 
and  cherished  just  such  meditations  as 
my  visit  had  already  inspired.  Natural 
scenery,  when  viewed  in  a  Christian 
mirror,  frequently  affords  very  beautiful 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        143 

illustrations  of  divine  truths.  We  are 
highly  favored  when  we  can  enjoy  them, 
and  at  the  same  time  draw  near  to  God 
in  them. 


144        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


PART  VII. 

It  is  a  pleasing  consideration,  that 
amidst  the  spiritual  darkness  which  un- 
happily prevails  in  many  parts  of  the 
land.  God  nevertheless  has  a  people.  It 
not  unfrequently  happens  that  single  in- 
dividuals are  to  be  found,  who,  though 
very  disadvantageously  situated  with  re- 
gard to  the  ordinary  means  of  grace, 
have  received  truly  saving  impressions, 
and  through  a  blessing  on  secret  medita- 
tion, reading,  and  prayer,  are  led  to  the 
closest  communion  with  God,  and  become 
eminently  devoted  Christians.  It  is  the 
no  small  error  of  too  many  professors  of 
the  present  day,  to  overlook  or  under- 
value the  instances  of  this  kind  which 
exist.    The  religious  profession  and  opin- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        145 

ions  of  some  have  too  much  of  mere  ma- 
chinery in  their  composition.  If  every 
wheel,  pivot,  chain,  spring,  cog,  or  pin- 
ion, be  not  exactly  in  its  place,  or  move 
not  precisely  according  to  a  favorite  and 
prescribed  system,  the  whole  is  rejected 
as  unworthy  of  regard.  But  happily 
"the  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his;77 
nor  is  the  impression  of  his  own  seal 
wanting  to  characterize  some  who,  in 
comparative  seclusion  from  the  religious 
world,  "name  the  name  of  Christ,  and 
depart  from  iniquity.77 

There  are  some  real  Christians  so  pe- 
culiarly circumstanced  in  this  respect,  as 
to  illustrate  the  poet7s  comparison: 

"  Full  many  a  gem  of  purest  ray  serene 

The  dark  unfathomed  caves  of  ocean  bear  ; 
Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air." 

Yet  this  was  not  altogether  the  case 

with  the  dairy man7s  daughter.     Her  re- 
10     • 


146       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

ligion  had  indeed  ripened  in  seclusion 
from  the  world,  and  she  was  intimately 
known  but  to  few  ;  but  she  lived  usefully, 
departed  most  happily,  and  left  a  shining 
track  behind  her.  While  I  attempt  a 
faint  delineation  of  it,  may  I  catch  its  in- 
fluence, and  become,  through  inexpressible 
mercy,  a  follower  of  "them  who  through 
faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises." 

From  the  time  wherein  I  visited  her,  as 
described  in  my  last  paper,  I  considered 
her  end  as  fast  approaching.  One  day  I 
received  a  hasty  summons  to  inform  me 
that  she  was  dying.  It  was  brought  by 
a  soldier,  whose  countenance  bespoke  se- 
riousness, good  sense,  and  piety. 

"I  am  sent,  sir,  by  the  father  and 
mother  of  Elizabeth  W— — ,  at  her  own 
particular  request,  to  say  how  much  they 
all  wish  to  see  you.  She  is  going  home, 
sir,  very  fast  indeed." 

"Have  you  known  her  long?" 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        147 

"About  a  month,  sir.  I  love  to  visit 
the  sick ;  and  hearing  of  her  case  from  a 
person  who  lives  close  by  our  camp,  I 
went  to  see  her.  •  I  bless  God  that  ever 
I  did  go.  Her  conversation  has  been 
very  profitable  to  me." 

"I  rejoice/'  said  I,  "to  see  in  you,  as 
I  trust,  a  brothei^  soldier.  Though  we 
differ  in  our  outward  regimentals,  I  hope 
we  serve  under  the  same  spiritual  Cap- 
tain.    I  will  go  with  you." 

My  horse  was  soon  ready.  My  mili- 
tary companion  walked  by  my  side,  and 
gratified  me  with  very  sensible  and  pious 
conversation.  He  related  some  remark- 
able testimonies  of  the  excellent  disposi- 
tion of  the  dairyman's  daughter,  as  they 
appeared  from  recent  intercourse  which 
he  had  had  with  her. 

"She  is  a  bright  diamond,  sir,"  said 
the  soldier,  "and  will  soon  shine  brighter 
than  any  diamond  upon  earth." 


148       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

We  passed  through  lanes  and  fields, 
over  hills  and  valleys,  by  open  and  re- 
tired paths,  sometimes  crossing  over,  and 
sometimes  following  the  windings  of  a 
little  brook  which  gently  murmured  by 
the  road-side.  Conversation  beguiled 
the  distance,  and  shortened  the  apparent 
time  of  our  journey,  till  we  were  nearly 
arrived  at  the  dairyman's  cottage. 

As  we  approached  it,  we  became  si- 
lent. Thoughts  of  death,  eternity,  and 
salvation,  inspired  by  the  sight  of  a  house 
where  a  dying  believer  lay,  rilled  my  own 
.  mind,  and  I  doubt  not,  that  of  my  com- 
panion also. 

No  living  object  yet  appeared,  except 
the  dairyman's  dog:  keeping  a  kind  of 
mute  watch  at  the  door ;  .for  he  did  not 
as  formerly,  bark  at  my  approach.  He 
seemed  to  partake  so  far  of  the  feelings 
appropriate  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
family,  as  not  to  wish  to  give  a  hasty  or 


THE.  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        149 

painful  alarm.  He  came  forward  to  the 
little  wicket-gate,  then  looked  back  at  the 
house  door,  as  if  conscious  there  was  sor- 
row within.  It  was  as  if  he  wanted  to 
say,  "Tread  softly  over  the  threshold,  as 
you  enter  the  house  of  mourning;  for 
my  master's  heart  is  full  of  grief." 

The  soldier  took  my  horse,  and  tied  it 
up  in  a  shed.  A  solemn  serenity  ap- 
peared to  surround  the  whole  place ;  it 
was  only  interrupted  by  the  breezes  pass- 
ing through  the  large  elm-trees  which 
stood  near  the  house,  and  which  my  im- 
agination indulged  itself  in  thinking  were 
plaintive  sighs  of  sorrow.  I  gently  open- 
ed the  door;  no  one  appeared,  and  all 
was  still  silent.  The  soldier  followed; 
we  came  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 

"They  are  come,"  said  a  voice  which 
I  knew,  to  be  the  father's;  "they  are 
come." 

He  appeared  at  the  top ;  I  gave  him 


150       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

my  hand,  and  said  nothing.  On  enter- 
ing the  room  above,  I  saw  the  aged 
mother  and  her  son  supporting  the  much- 
loved  daughter  and  sister ;  the  son's  wife 
sat  weeping  in  a  window-seat,  with  a 
child  on  her  lap ;  two  or  three  persons 
attended  in  the  room  to  discharge  any 
office  which  friendship  or  necessity  might 
require. 

I  sat  down  by  the  bedside.  The  mother 
could  not  weep,  but  now  and  then  sighed* 
deeply,  as  she  alternately  looked  at  Eliz- 
abeth and  at  me.  The  big  tear  rolled 
down  the  brother's  cheek,  and  testified 
an  affectionate  regard.  The  good  old 
man  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  lean- 
ing upon  the  post,  and  unable  to  take  his 
eyes  off  the  child  from  whom  he  was  so 
soon  to  part. 

Elizabeth's  eyes  were  closed,  and  as 
yet  she  perceived  me  not.  But  over  the 
face,  though  pale,  sunk,  and  hollow,  the 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        151 

peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, had  cast  a  triumphant  calm. 

The  soldier,  after  a  short  pause,  silent- 
ly reached  out  his  Bible  towards  me, 
pointing  with  his  finger  at  1  Cor.  15 :55- 
57.  I  then  broke  silence  by  reading  the 
passage,  "0  death,  where  is  thy  sting? 
0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory?  The 
sting  of  death  is  sin ;  and  the  strength-  of 
sin  is  the  law.  But  thanks  be  to  God, 
which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ," 

At  the  sound  of  these  words  her  eyes 
opened,  and  something  like  a  ray  of  di- 
vine light  beamed  on  her  countenance, 
as  she  said,  "Victory,  victory;  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 

She  relapsed  again,  taking  no  further 
no'tice  of  any  one  present. 

"God  be  praised  for  the  triumph  of 
faith,"  said  I. 

"Amen,"  replied  the  soldier. 


152        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

The  dairyman's  uplifted  eye  showed 
that  the  Amen  was  in  his  heart,  though 
his  tongue  failed  to  utter  it. 

A  short  struggling  for  breath  took 
place  in  the  dying  young  woman,  which 
was  soon  over ;  and  then  I  said  to  her, 

"My  dear  friend,  do  you  not  feel  that 
you  are  supported?" 

"The  Lord  deals  very  gently  with  me," 
she  replied. 

"Are  not  his  promises  now  very  pre- 
cious to  you?" 

' '  They  are  all  yea  and  amen  in  Christ 
Jesus." 

"Are  you  in  much  bodily  pain?" 

"So  little,  that  I  almost  forget  if." 

"How  good  the  Lord  is." 

"And  how  unworthy  am  I." 

"You  are  going  to  see  him  as  he  is." 

"I  think — I  hope — I  believe  that  I 
am." 

She  again  fell  into  a  short  slumber. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.       153 

Looking  at  her  mother,  I  said,  "What 
a  mercy  to  have  a  child  so  near  heaven 
as  yours  is." 

"And  what  a  mercy/'  she  replied,  in 
broken  accents,  "if  her  poor  old  mother 
might  but  follow  her  there.  But,  sir,  it 
is  so  hard  to  part." 

"I  hope  through  grace  by  faith  you 
will  soon  meet,  to  part  na  more ;  it  will 
be  but  a  little  while." 

"Sir,"  said  the  dairyman,  "that  thought 
supports  me,  and  the  Lord's  goodness 
makes  me  feel  more  reconciled  than  I 
was." 

"Father — mother,"  said  the  reviving 
daughter,  "he  is  good  to  me  ■  trust  him, 
praise  him  evermore. 

"Sir,"  added  she,  in  a  faint  voice,  "I 
want  to  thank  you  for  your  kindness  to 
me ;  I  want  to  ask  a  favor :  you  buried 
my  sister — will  you  do  the  same  for 
me?" 


154       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

"All  shall  be  as  you  wish,  if  God  per- 
mit, "  I  replied. 

"Thank  you,  sir,  thank  you.  I  have 
another  favor  to  ask :  when  I  am  gone, 
remember  my  father  and  mother.  They 
are  old,  but  I  hope  the  good  work  is 
begun  in  their  souls — my  prayers  are 
heard.  Pray  come  and  see  them.  I 
cannot  speak  much,  but  I  want  to  speak 
for  their  sakes ;  sir,  remember  them." 

The  aged  parents  now  sighed  and  sob- 
bed aloud,  uttering  broken  sentences,  and 
gained  some  relief  by  such  an  expression 
of  their  feelings. 

At  length  I  said  to  Elizabeth,  "Do  you 
experience  any  doubts  or  temptations  on 
the  subject  of  your  eternal  safety?'7 

"No,  sir.  The  Lord  deals  very  gently 
with  me,  and  gives  me  peace.'7 

"What  are  your  views  of  the  dark 
valley  of  death,  now  that  you  are  pass- 
ing through  it?'7 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        155 

"It  is  not  dark." 

"Why  so?" 

'  •  My  Lord  is  there,  and  he  is  my  light 
and  my  salvation." 

"Have  yon  any  fears  of  more  bodily 
suffering?" 

"The  Lord  deals  so  gently  with  me,  I 
can  trust  him." 

Something  of  a  convulsion  came  on. 
When  it  was  past,  she  said  again  and 


again, 


"The  Lord  deals  very  gently  with  me. 
Lord,  I  am  thine ;  save  me,  blessed  Je- 
sus, precious  Saviour.  His  blood  cleans- 
eth  from  all  sin — who  shall  separate? 
His  name  is  Wonderful.  Thanks  be  to 
God — He  giveth  the  victory — I,  even  I, 
am  saved.  0  grace,  mercy,  and  wonder. 
Lord,  receive  my  spirit.  Dear  sir — dear 
father,  mother,  friends,  I  am  going — but 
all  is  well,  well,  well." 

She  relapsed  again.     We  knelt  down 


156       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

to  prayer.  The  Lord  was  in  the  midst 
of  us,  and  blessed  us. 

She  did  not  again  revive  while  I  re- 
mained, nor  ever  speak  any  more  words 
which  could  be  understood.  She  slum- 
bered for  about  ten  hours,  and  at  last 
sweetly  fell  asleep  in  the  arms  of  that 
Lord  who  had  dealt  so  gently  with  her. 

I  left  the  house  an  hour  after  she  had 
ceased  to  speak.  I  pressed  her  hand  as 
I  was  taking  leave;  and  said,  "Christ  is 
the  resurrection  and  the  life.77  She  gent- 
ly returned  the  pressure,  but  could  neither 
open  her  eyes  nor  utter  a  reply. 

I  never  had  witnessed  a  scene  so  im- 
pressive as  this  before.  It  completely 
filled  my  imagination  as  I  returned  home. 

"Farewell,"  thought  I,  "dear  friend, 
till  the  morning  of  an  eternal  day  shall 
renew  our  personal  intercourse.  Thou 
wast  a  brand  plucked  from  the  burning, 
that  thou  mightest  become  a  star  shining 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        15T 

in  the  firmament  of  glory.  I  have  seen 
thy  light  and  thy  good  works,  and  will 
therefore  glorify  our  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  I  have  seen,  in  thy  example, 
what  it  is  to  be  a  sinner  freely  saved  by 
grace.  I  have  learned  from  thee,  as  in 
a  living  mirror,  who  it  is  that  begins, 
continues,  and  ends  the  work  of  faith 
and  love.  Jesus  is  all  in  all;  he  will 
and  shall  be  glorified.  He  won  the 
crown,  and  alone  deserves  to  wear  it. 
May  no  one  attempt  to  rob  him  of  his 
glory.  He  saves,  and  saves  to  the  utter- 
most. Farewell,  dear  sister  in  the  Lord. 
Thy  flesh  and  thy  heart  may  fail;  but 
God  is  the  strength  of  thy  heart,  and 
shall  be  thy  portion  for  ever." 


158       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


PART  VIII. 

Who  can  conceive  or  estimate  the  na- 
ture of  that  change  which  the  soul  of  a 
believer  must  experience  at  the  moment 
when,  quitting  its  tabernacle  of  clay,  it 
suddenly  enters  into  the  presence  of  God? 
If,  even  while  "we  see  through  a  glass 
darkly,"  the  views  of  divine  love  and 
wisdom  are  so  delightful  to  the  eye  of 
faith,  what  must  be  the  glorious  vision 
of  God  when  seen  face  to  face  ?  If  it  be 
so  valued  a  privilege  here  on  earth  to 
enjoy  the  communion  of  saints,  and  to 
take  sweet  counsel  together  with  our 
fellow-travellers  towards  the  heavenly 
kingdom ;  what  shall  we  see  and  know 
when  we  finally  "come  unto  mount  Zion, 
and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumer- 
able company  of  angels,  to  the  general 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        159 

assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God 
the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus  the  me- 
diator of  the  new  covenant?" 

If,  during  the  sighs  and  tears  of  a 
mortal  pilgrimage,  the  consolations  of 
the  Spirit  are  so  precious,  and  the  hope 
full  of  immortality  is  so  animating  to  the 
soul ;  what  heart  can  conceive,  or  what 
tongue  utter  its  superior  joys*  when  arriv- 
ed at  that  state  where  sighing  and  sorrow 
flee  away,  and  the  tears  shall  be  wiped 
from  every  eye? 

Such  ideas  were  powerfully  associated 
together  in  my  imagination,  as  I  travel- 
led onward  to  the  house  where,  in  solemn 
preparation  for  the  grave,  lay  the  remains 
of  the  dairyman's  daughter. 

She  had  breathed  her  last  shortly  after 
the  visit  related  in  my  former  account. 
Permission  was  obtained,   as  before  in 


160       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

the  .case  of  her  sister,  that  I  should  per- 
form the  funeral  service.  Many  pleas- 
ing yet  melancholy  thoughts  were  con- 
nected with  the  fulfilment  of  this  task. 
I  retraced  the  numerous  and  important 
conversations  which  I  had  held  with  her. 
But  these  could  now  no  longer  be  main- 
tained on  earth.  I  reflected  on  the  inter- 
esting and  improving  nature  of  Christian 
friendships,  whether  formed  in  palaces 
or  in  cottages ;  and  felt  thankful  that  I 
had  so  long  enjoyed  that  privilege  with 
the  subject  of  this  memorial.  I  then 
indulged  a  selfish  sigh  for  a  moment,  on 
thinking  that  I  could  no  longer  hear  the 
great  truths  of  Christianity  uttered  by 
one  who  had  drunk,  so  deep  of  the  wa- 
ters of  the  river  of  life.  But  the  rising 
murmur  was  checked  by  the  animating 
•thought,  "She  is  gone  to  eternal  rest — 
could  I  wish  her  back  again  in  this  vale 
of  tears?" 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER*.       161 

At  that  moment  the  first  sound  of  a 
tolling  bell  struck  my  ear.  It  proceeded 
from  a  village  church  in  the  valley  di- 
rectly beneath  the  ridge  of  a  high  hill, 
over  which  I  had  taken  my  way.  It  was 
Elizabeth's  funeral  knell. 

The  sound  was  solemn ;  and  in  ascend- 
ing to  the  elevated  spot  over  which  I 
rode,  it  acquired  a  peculiar  tone  and 
character.  Tolling  at  slow  and  regular 
intervals — as  was  customary  for  a  con- 
siderable time  previous  to  the  hour  of 
burial — the  bell,  as  it  were,  proclaimed 
the  blessedness  of  the  dead  who  die  in 
the  Lord,  and  also  the.  necessity  of  the 
living  pondering  these  things,  and  laying 
them  to  heart.  It  seemed  to  say,  "Hear 
my  warning  voice,  thou  son  of  man. 
There  is  but  a  step  between  thee  and 
death.  Arise,  prepare  thy  house;  for 
thou  shalt  die,  and  not  live." 

The  scenery  was  in  unison  with  that 
ll 


162        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

tranquil  frame  of  mind  which  is  most 
suitable  for  holy  meditation.  A  rich 
and  fruitful  valley  lay  immediately  be- 
neath ;  it  was  adorned  with  corn-fields 
and  pastures,  through  which  a  small  river 
winded  in  a  variety  of  directions,  and 
many  herds  grazed  upon  its  banks.  A 
fine  range  of  opposite  hills,  covjered  with 
grazing  flocks,  terminated  with  a  bold 
sweep  into  the  ocean,  whose  blue  waves 
appeared  at  a  distance  beyond.  Several 
villages,  hamlets,  and  churches  were  scat- 
tered in  the  valley.  The  noble  man- 
sions of  the  rich  and  the  lowly  cottages 
of  the  poor  added  their  respective  fea- 
tures to  the  landscape.  The  air  was 
mild,  and  the  declining  sun  occasioned  a 
beautiful  interchange  of  light  and  shade 
upon  the  sides  of  the  hills.  In  the  midst 
of  this  scene,  the  chief  sound  that  arrested 
attention  was  the  bell  tolling  for  the  fu- 
neral of  the  dairyman's  daughter. 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        163 

Do  any  of  my  readers  inquire  why  I 
describe  so  minutely  the  circumstances 
of  prospect  and  scenery  which  may  be 
connected  with  the  incidents  I  relate? 
My  reply  is,  that  the  God  of  redemption 
is  the  God  of  creation  likewise  \  and  that 
we  are  taught  in  every  part  of  the  word 
of  God  to  unite  the  admiration  of  the 
beauties  and  wonders  of  nature  to  every 
other  motive  for  devotion.  When- David 
considered  the  heavens,  the  work  of  God's 
fingers,  the  moon  and  the  stars  which  he 
has  ordained,  he  was  thereby  led  to  the 
deepest  humiliation  of  heart  before  his 
Maker.  And  when  he  viewed  the  sheep 
and  the  oxen  and  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
the  fowls  of  the  air  and  the  fish  of  the 
sea,  he  was  constrained  to  cry  out,  "0 
Lord  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy 
name  in  all  the  earth." 

I  am  the  poor  man's  friend,  and  wish 
more  especially  that  every  poor  laboring 


164        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

man  should  know  how  to  connect  the 
goodness  of  God  in  creation  and  prov- 
idence* with  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
his  grace  in  the  salvation  of  a  sinner. 
And  where  can  he  learn  this  lesson  more 
instructively  than  in  looking  around  the 
fields  where  his  labor  is  appointed,  and 
there  tracing  the  handiwork  of  God  in 
all  that  he  beholds?  Such  meditations 
have  often  afforded  me  both  profit  and 
pleasure,  and  I  wish  my  readers  to  share 
them  with  me. 

The  dairyman's  cottage  was  rather 
more  than  a  mile  distant  from  the  church.  • 
A  lane,  quite  overshaded  with  trees  and 
high  hedges,  led  from  the  foot  of  the  hill 
to  his  dwelling.  It  was  impossible  at 
that  time  to  overlook  the  suitable  gloom 
of  such  an  approach  to  the  house  of 
mourning. 

I  found,  on  my  entrance,  that  several 
Christian  friends  from  different  parts  of 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        1G5 

the  neighborhood  had  assembled  together, 
to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  esteem  and 
regard  to  the  memory  of  the  dairyman's 
daughter.  Several  of  them  had  first  be= 
come  acquainted  with  her  during  the  lat- 
ter stage  of  her  illness;  some  few  had 
maintained  an  affectionate  intercourse 
with  her  for  a  longer  period.  But  all 
seemed  anxious  to  manifest  their  respect 
for  one  who  was  endeared  to  them  by 
such  striking  testimonies  of  true  Chris- 
tianity. 

I  was  requested  to  go  into  the  cham- 
ber where  the  relatives  and  a  few  other* 
friends  were  gone  to  take  a  last  look  at 
the  remains  of  Elizabeth. 

It  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  sensation 
which  the  mind  experiences  on  tjie  first 
sight  of  a  dead  countenance,  which  when 
living  was  loved  and  esteemed  for  the 
sake  of  that  soul  which  used  to  give  it 
animation.     A  deep  and  awful  view  of 


166       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

the  separation  that  has  taken  place  be- 
tween the  soul  and  body  of  the  de- 
ceased since  we  last  beheld  them,  occu- 
pies the  feelings  ;  our  friend  seems  to  be 
both  near,  and  yet  far  off.  The  most 
interesting  and  valuable  part  is  fled 
away ;  what  remains  is  but  the  earthly, 
perishing  habitation,  no  longer  occupied 
by  its  tenant.  Yet  the  features  present 
the  accustomed  association  of  friendly 
intercourse.  For  one  moment  we  could 
think  them  asleep.  The  next  reminds 
us  that  the  blood  circulates  no  more  •  the 
'eye  has  lost  its  power  of  seeing,  the  ear 
of  hearing,  the  heart  of  throbbing,  and 
the  limbs  of  moving.  Quickly  a  thought 
of  glory  breaks  in  upon  the  mind,  and 
we  imagine  the  dear  departed  soul  to  be 
arrived  at  its  long  wished-for  rest.  It  is 
surrounded  by  cherubim  and  seraphim, 
and  sings  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb 
on  mount  Zion.     Amid  the  solemn  still- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        167 

ness  of  the  chamber  of  death,  imagina- 
tion hears  heavenly  hymns  chanted  by 
the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  In 
another  moment,  the  livid  lips  and  sunken 
eye  of  the  clay-cold  corpse  recall  our 
thoughts  to  earth,  and  to  ourselves  again. 
And  while  we  think  of  mortality,  sin, 
death,  and  the  grave,  we  feel  the  prayer 
rise  in  our  bosom,  "Let  me  die  the  death 
of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be 
like  his.'7 

If  there  be  a  moment  when  Christ  and 
salvation,  death,  judgment,  heaven,  and 
hell,  appear  more  than  ever  to  be  mo- 
mentous subjects  of  meditation,  it  is  that 
which  brings  us  to  the  side  of  a  coffin 
containing  the  body  of  a  departed  be- 
liever. 

Elizabeth's  features  were  altered,  but 
much  of  her  likeness  remained.  Her  fa- 
ther and  mother  sat  at  the  head,  her 
brother  at  the  foot  of  the  coffin.      The 


16S        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

father  silently  and  alternately  looked 
upon  his  dead  child,  and  then  lifted  up 
his  eyes  to  heaven.  A  struggle  for  res- 
ignation to  the  will  of  God  was  manifest 
in  his  countenance,  while  the  tears  roll- 
ing down  his  aged  cheeks  at  the  same 
time  declared  his  grief  and  affection. 
The  poor  mother  cried  and  sobbed  aloud, 
and  appeared  to  be  much  overcome  by 
the  shock  of  separation  from  a  daughter 
so  justly  dear  to  her.  The  weakness 
and  infirmity  of  old  age  added  a  char- 
acter to  her  sorrow,  which  called  for 
much  tenderness  and  compassion. 

A  remarkably  decent-looking  "woman, 
who  had  the  management  of  the  few 
simple  though  solemn  ceremonies  which 
the  case  required,  advanced  towards  "me, 
saying, 

"Sir,  this  is  rather  a  sight  of  joy  than 
of  sorrow.  Our  dear  friend  Elizabeth 
finds,  it  to  be  so,  I  have  no  doubt.     She 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        169 

is  beyond  all  sorrow:  do  you  not  think 
she  is,  sir?" 

"  After  what  I  have  known,  and  seen, 
and  heard,''  I  replied,  "I  feel  the  fullest 
assurance,  that  while  her  body  remains 
here,  her  soul  is  with  her  Saviour  in 
paradise.  She  loved  him  here,  and  there 
she  enjoys  the  pleasures  which  are  at  his 
right  hand  for  evermore." 

"Mercy,  mercy  upon  a  poor  old  crea- 
ture almost  broken  down  with  age  and 
grief.  What  shall  I  do  ? .  Betsey  7s  gone. 
My  daughter 's  dead.  0  my  child,  I 
shall  never  see  thee  more.  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  sobbed  out  the 
poor  mother. 

"That  last  prayer,  my  dear,  good 
woman,"  said  I,  "will  bring  you  and 
your  child  together  again.  It  is  a  cry 
that  has  brought  thousands  to  glory.  It 
brought  your  daughter  there,  and  I  hope 
it  will  bring  you  thither  likewise.     God 


170       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

will  in  no  wise  cast  out  any  that  come 
to  him." 

"My  dear,"  said  the  dairyman,  break- 
ing the  long  silence  he  had  maintained, 
"let  us  trust  God  with  our  child,  and  let 
us  trust  him  with  our  own  selves.  The 
Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  has  taken  away ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.  We 
are  old,  and  can  have  but  a  little  further 
to  travel  in  our  journey,  and  then  — "  he 
could  "say  no  more. 

The  soldier  mentioned  in  my  last  paper 
reached  a  Bible  into  my  hand,  and  said, 
"Pe'rhaps,  sir,  you  would  not  object  .to 
reading  a  chapter  before  we  go  to  the 
church?" 

I  did  so ;  it  was  the  fourteenth  of  the 
book  of  Job.  A  sweet  tranquillity  pre- 
vailed while  I  read  it.  Each  minute 
that  was  spent  in  this  funeral  chamber 
seemed  to  be  valuable.  I  made  a  few 
observations  on  the   chapter,  and  con- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        171 

nectecl  them  with  the  case  of  our  depart- 
ed sister. 

"I  am  but  a  poor  soldier/7  said  our 
military  friend,  "and  have  .nothing  of 
this  world's  goods  beyond,  my  daily  sub- 
sistence ;  but  I  would  not  exchange  my 
hope  of  salvation  in  the  next  world  for 
all  that  this  world  could  bestow  without 
it.  What  is  wealth  without  grace  ?  Bless- 
ed be  God,  as  I  march  about  from  one 
quarter  to  another,  I  still,  find  the  Lord 
wherever  I  go;  and  thanks  be  to  his 
holy  name,  he  is  here  to-day  in  the 
midst  of  this  company  of  the  living  and 
the  dead.  I  feel  that  it  is  good  to  be 
here.7' 

Some  other  persons  present  began  to 
take  a  part  in  our  conversation,  in  the 
course  of  which  the  life  and  experience 
of  the  dairyman's  daughter  were  brought 
forward  in  a  very  interesting  manner. 
Each  friend  had  something  to  relate  in 


172        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

testimony  of  her  gracious  disposition.  A 
young  woman  •  under  twenty,  who  had 
hitherto  been  a  very  light  and  trifling 
character,  appeared  to  be  remarkably 
impressed  by  the  conversation  of  that 
day,  and  I  have  since  had  ground  to 
believe  that  divine  grace  then  began  to 
influence  her  in  the  choice  of  that  bet- 
ter part  which  shall  not  be  taken  from 
her. 

What  a  contrast  does  such  a  scene  as 
this  exhibit,  when  compared  with  the 
dull;  formal,  unedifying,  and  often  inde- 
cent manner  in  which  funeral  parties 
assemble  in  the  house  of  death. 

As  we  conversed,  the  parents  revived. 
Our  subject  of  discourse  was  delightful 
to  their  hearts.  Their  child  seemed 
almost  to  be  alive  again,  while  we  talked 
of  her.  Tearful  smiles  often  brightened 
their  countenances,  as  they  heard  the 
voice  of  friendship  uttering  their  daugh- 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        1T3 

ter's  praises,  or  rather  the  praises  of 
Him  who  had  made  her  a  vessel  of  mer- 
cy, and  an  instrument  of  spiritual  good 
to  her  family. 

The  time  for  departing  to  the  church 
was  now  at  hand. 

I  went  to  take  my  last  look  at  the  de- 
ceased. 

There  was  much  written  on  her  coun- 
tenance. She  had  evidently  died  with 
a  smile.  It  still  remained,  and  spoke 
the  tranquillity  of  her  departed  soul. 
According  to  the  custom  of  the  country, 
she  was  decorated  with  leaves  and  flowers 
in  the  coffin :  she  seemed  as  a  bride  gone 
forth  to  meet  the  bridegroom.  These  in- 
deed were  fading  flowers,  but  they  re- 
minded me  of  that  paradise  whose  flowers 
are  immortal,  and  where  her  never-dy- 
ing soul  is  at  rest. 

I  remembered  the  last  words  which  I 
had  heard  her  speak,  and  was  instant- 


174        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

ly  struck  with  the  happy  thought  that 
death  was  indeed  "swallowed  up  in  vic- 
tory." 

As  I  slowly  retired,  I  said  inwardly, 
"Peace,  my  honored  sister,  be  to  thy 
memory  and  to  my  soul,  till  we  meet  in 
a  better  world. ,; 

In  a  little  time  the  procession  formed : 
it  was  rendered  the  more  interesting  by 
the  consideration  of  so  many  that  fol- 
lowed the  coffin  being  persons  'of  a  devout 
and  spiritual  character.  The  distance 
was  rather  more  than  a  mile.  I  resolved 
to  continue  with  and  go  before  them,  as 
they  moved  slowly  onwards. 

Immediately  after  the  body  came  the 
venerable  father  and  mother,  bending 
with  age,  and  weeping  through  much 
affliction  of  heart.  Their  appearance 
was  calculated  to  excite  every  emotion 
of  pity,  love,  and  esteem.  The  other 
relatives  followed  them   in   order,   and 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        1^5 

the  several  attendant  friends  took  their 
places  behind. 

«  After  we  had  advanced  about  a  hun- 
dred yards,  my  meditation  was  unex- 
pectedly and  most  agreeably  interrupted 
by  the  friends  who  attended  beginning 
to  sing  a  funeral  psalm.  Nothing  could 
be  more  sweet  or  solemn.  The  well- 
,  known  effect  of  the  open  air  in  softening 
and  blending  the  sounds  of  music,  was 
here  peculiarly  felt.  The  road  through 
which  we  passed  was  beautiful  and  ro- 
mantic. It  lay  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  which 
occasionally  reechoed  the  voices  of  the 
singers,  and  seemed  to  give  faint  replies 
to  the  notes  of  the  mourners.  The  fu- 
neral knell  was  distinctly  heard  from  the 
church  tower,  and  greatly,  increased  the 
effect  which  this  simple  and  becoming 
service  produced. 

We  went  by -several  cottages:  a  re- 
spectful  attention   was   universally   ob- 


176        THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

served  as  we  passed,  and  the  counte- 
nances of  many  proclaimed  their  regard 
for  the  departed  young  woman.  The 
singing  was  regularly  continued,  with 
occasional  intervals^  of  about  five  min- 
utes, during  our  whole  progress. 

I  cannot  describe  the  state  of  my  own 
mind  as  peculiarly  connected  with  this 
solemn  singing.  I  was  reminded  of  older, 
times  and  ancient  piety.  I  wished  the 
practice  more  frequent.  It  seems  well 
calculated  to  excite  and  cherish  devotion 
and  religious  affections. 

Music,  when  judiciously  brought  into 
the  service  of  religion,  is  one  of  the  most 
delightful,  and  not  least  efficacious  means 
of  grace.  I  pretend  not  too  minutely  to 
conjecture  as  to  the  actual  nature  of  those 
pleasures  which,  after  the  resurrection, 
the  reunited  body  and  soul  will  enjoy  in 
heaven ;  but  I  can  hardly  persuade  my- 
self that  melody  and  harmony  will  be 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        177 

wanting,  when  even  the  sense  of  hearing 
shall  itself  be  glorified. 

We  at  length  arrived  at  the  church. 
Looking  upwards,  as  I  drew  near  the 
church,  I  observed  a  dial  on  the  wall. 
The  sun's  declining  rays  directed  the 
shadow  to  the  evening  hour.  As  I  pass- 
ed underneath  this  simple  but  solemn 
monitor,  I  was  reminded  of  the  lapse  of 
time,  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  sure 
approach  of  eternity.  I  thought  with 
David,  "We  are  strangers  before  thee, 
and  sojourners,  as  were  all  our  fathers ; 
our  clays  on  the  earth  are  as  a  shadow, 
and  there  is  none  abiding."  "So  teach 
us  to  number  our  days,  that  ?we  may 
apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom." 

The  service  was  heard  with  deep  and 

affectionate  attention.      When  we  came 

to  the  grave,  the  hymn  which  Elizabeth 

had  selected  was  sung.     All  was  devout, 

simple,  animating.     We  committed  our 
12 


118       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

clear  sister's  body  to  the  earth,  in  full 
hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection  from  the 
dead. 

Thus  was  the  veil  of  separation  drawn 
for  a  season.  She  is  departed,  and  no 
more  seen,  But  she  will  be  seen  on  the 
right  hand  of  her  Eedeemer  at  the  last 
day,  and  will  again  appear  to  his  glory, 
a 'miracle  of  grace  and  monument  of 
mercy. 

My  reader,  rich  or  poor,  shall  you 
and  I  appear  there  likewise?  Are  we 
11  clothed  with  humility/'  and  arrayed  in 
the  wedding  garment  of  a  Redeemer's 
righteousness  ?  Are  we  turned  from  idols 
to  serve  ^the  living  God?  Are  we  sensi- 
ble of  our  own  emptiness,  and  therefore 
flying  to  a  Saviour's  fulness  to  obtain 
grace  and  strength?  Do  we  indeed  live 
in  Christ,  and  on  him,  and  by  him,  and 
with  him?  Is  he  our  all  in  all?  Are  we 
lost,  and  found?  dead,  and  alive  again? 


THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER.        179 

My  poor  reader,  the  dairyman's  daugh- 
ter was  a  pool'  girl,  and  the  child  of  a 
poor  man.  Herein  thou  resemblest  her ; 
but  dost  thou,  resemble  her  as  she  re- 
sembled Christ?  Art  thou  made  rich  by 
faith?  Hast  thou  a  crown  laid  up  for 
thee?  Is  thy  heart  set  upon  heavenly 
riches?  If  not,  read  this  story  once 
more,  and  then  pray  earnestly  for  like 
precious  faith. 

But  if  through  grace  thou  dost  love 
and  serve  the  Redeemer  that  saved  the 
dairyman's  daughter,  grace,  peace,  and 
mercy  be  with  thee.  The  lines  are  fallen 
unto  thee  in  pleasant  places:  thou  hast 
a  goodly  heritage.  Press  forward  in 
duty,  and  wait  upon  the  Lord,  possess- 
ing thy  soul  in  holy  patience.  Thou 
hast  just  been  with  me  to  the  grave  of  a 
departed  believer.  Now-  "go  thy  way 
till  the  end  be ;  for  thou  shalt  rest,  and 
stand  in  thy  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days." 


180       THE  DAIRYMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

Note.  The  mother  died  not  long  after  her 
daughter ;  and  I  have  good  reason  to  believe 
that  God  was  merciful  to  her,  and  took  her  to 
himself. 

The  good  old  dayman  died  in  1816y  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  His  end  was  emi- 
nently Christian. 


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LIFE  ILLUSTRATED  SERIES. 


Helen  Maurice. 

A  narrative  of  every-day  home  life.     Three  Engravings. 

The  Glen  Cabin, 

Or,  Away  to  the  Hills.     Exciting  scenes  among  the  White 
mountains. 

Dora  Hamilton. 

The  experience  of  a  merchant's  daughter.     Three  Cuts. 

Lilian. 

A  tale  of  three  hundred  years  ago.     Four  Engravings. 

The  Huguenots  of  France, 

Or,  the  Times  of  Henry  IV.     Some  of  the  most  stirring 
incidents  of  history.     With  Cuts. 

Evelyn  Percival. 

Highly  interesting  sketches  and  characters  drawn  from 
life.     Three  Cuts. 

Hverton  Rectory, 
Or,    the  Non-conformists   of  the   Seventeenth  Century. 
Founded  on  fact.     Four  Engravings. 

Allan  Cameron. 

The  eventful  life  of  a  Scottish  clergyman's  son,  devel- 
oping a  character  of  rare  beauty  and  nobleness  under  the 
moulding  power  of  religion.     Illustrated. 

Walter  Martin. 

Progress  through  obstacles  to  a  position  of  great  useful- 
ness.    Three  Cuts. 


Clayton  -Allyii, 

Or,  Learning  Life's  First  Lessons.     With  Engravings. 

Save  the  Erring-, 

Or,  The  Gospel  Purpose.    A  pleasing  and  instructive  Nar- 
rative.    Three  Cuts. 

Effle  Morrison, 

Or,  The  Family  of  Redbraes.     A  narrative  of  truth .    With 
Illustrations. 

The  Weed  with  an  Ill-name. 

Lessons  from  nature  impressed  upon  the  heart.  With 
Cuts. 

Our  Tillage  in  War  Time. 

Thrilling  life-sketches,  inculcating  true  patriotism  and 
piety.     Illustrated. 

The  Swiss  Children. 

Welcome  to  the  little  exiles  from  abroad.     Two  Cuts. 

The  Missing  Boat. 

The  perils  of  mischief,  and  safety  of  true  repentance. 
With  Cuts. 

Madeline. 

The  history  of  a  New  England  girl.     Illustrated. 

A  Little  More. 

The  value  of  contentment.     Two  Engravings. 

The  Light-house  Boy. 

A  moral  light-house  for  boys. 

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